Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 22% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$993
$973
+2% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,042
+0% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,296
+9% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,433
+12% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$217,200
+13% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$45,300
+22% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$59,940
+28% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
25.7%
+21.3 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
18.3%
+8.8 pp in Dover, DE
Avg Commute
24.0 min
22.8 min
+1.2 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
527.5
+49% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,949.2
+52% 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
51.2°F
+5.7°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
43.6 in
+2.4 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
24.3
+26% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$23.33
+22% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / CT)
None
6.35%
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
6.99%
+0.4 pp in CT

Dover vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Hartford?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Hartford?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).