Rents are 9% 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 $2,292 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
January. Asking rents in Dover usually run 2% below trend in January and 2.1% above it in August, about $94 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Dover is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.
Rent in Dover changed +2.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($94,829) is $2,371 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,310); a 4-bedroom is $2,700.
Somersworth, 4 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,015/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
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, NH is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 52% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Dover, NH has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Dover, NH paid around $1,562 a month. That figure now sits near $2,292, up 46.7% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $82,387 in 2021 to $94,829 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Dover, NH adding about 765 residents over the five-year window, up 2.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 47.8% to 52% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Dover, NH market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Dover on your salary?
At $2,292/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 $2,292/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,820/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,430/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,310/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($94,829/yr), Dover ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Dover?
Is rent going up or down in Dover?
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How does Dover rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Dover?
At $2,292/mo, rent takes ~29% of Dover's median household income ($94,829/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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