Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 3% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$993
$798
+20% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$782
+25% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$984
+17% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,100
+33% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$169,700
+32% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$60,293
+3% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$47,700
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.0 yr
+0.1 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
62.2%
+15.2 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
28.5%
+1.4 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Avg Commute
24.0 min
21.4 min
+2.6 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
308.9
+70% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,245.4
+64% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
50.5°F
+6.4°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
38.3 in
+7.7 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Dover, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
17.5
+9% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$24.52
+18% in Dover, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Dover, DE
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / IN)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
2.95%
+3.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Fort Wayne?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).