Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 18% higher in Newark, DE. Both cities are in Delaware, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,649
+66% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,391
+33% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,513
+28% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,916
+17% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$357,600
+44% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$71,373
+22% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$54,310
+16% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
22.0 yr
+13.1 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
50.3%
+3.3 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
57.5%
+30.4 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
24.0 min
19.6 min
+4.4 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
326.3
+68% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,024.6
+67% 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
54.9°F
+2.0°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
43.1 in
+3.0 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
19.3
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$29.73
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
6.60%
about equal

Dover vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Newark?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Newark?
Neither — both are in Delaware, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).