Dover, DE at a glance
Median household income
$60,199$5,017 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Dover, DE?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Dover, DE? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Dover, DE MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,158 | $13,896 | $46,320 | 23.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,165 | $13,980 | $46,600 | 23.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,470 | $17,640 | $58,800 | 29.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,044 | $24,528 | $81,760 | 40.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,285 | $27,420 | $91,400 | 45.5% |
What a typical income covers in Dover, DE
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $60,199 a year ($5,017 a month before tax).
What $60,199 leaves after Delaware taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Delaware tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Delaware
Living in Dover, DE: common questions
What is the median household income in Dover, DE?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Dover, DE is $60,199 per year (approximately $5,017 per month).
What is the average rent in Dover, DE?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,158 for a studio, $1,165 for one bedroom, $1,470 for two, $2,044 for three and $2,285 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Dover, DE expensive to live in?
Prices there run 2.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 97.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Dover, DE?
To keep a $1,470 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $58,800 a year, or $4,900 a month. That is 98% of what the typical household in Dover, DE earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Dover, DE?
On the local median income of $60,199 ($5,017 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,508 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,505 for everything else and $1,003 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,470 takes 59% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Dover, DE?
Homes in Delaware paid 19.3¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $174. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.