Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Norfolk, VA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 9% higher in Norfolk, VA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,102
+11% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,032
+1% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,214
+2% in Norfolk, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,602
+2% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$271,900
+9% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$64,017
+10% in Norfolk, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$49,430
+6% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
32.4 yr
+2.7 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
45.7%
+1.3 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
32.7%
+5.6 pp in Norfolk, VA
Avg Commute
24.0 min
22.9 min
+1.1 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
479.5
+53% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,800.7
+38% 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
61.3°F
+4.4°F in Norfolk, VA
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
44.8 in
+1.3 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
17.2
+11% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$27.20
+9% in Dover, DE

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 / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in DE

Dover vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Norfolk?
Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Norfolk?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Norfolk?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).