Rents are 8% below what Dover's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,702 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
June. Asking rents in Dover usually run 0.4% below trend in June and 0.7% above it in November, about $19 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Dover is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2016.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Dover rose 47% while median household income rose 26.3% ($47,669 to $60,199). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Dover is 57.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($60,199) is $1,505 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,480); a 3-bedroom is $2,065.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dover. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Dover, DE is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 26.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Dover, DE has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Dover, DE stood at $1,303 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,702, reflecting a 30.6% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $60,199 today, compared with $51,073 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.3% since 2021, moving from about 38,940 residents to roughly 39,837. Renters now make up 53.1% of households, compared with 51.1% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,702/mo, how Dover rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Dover rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Dover. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Dover
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Dover is $1,702/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,165/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,480/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,065/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($60,199/yr), Dover ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,702/mo, rent takes ~34% of Dover's median household income ($60,199/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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