Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Norman, OK. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 10% higher in Norman, OK. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$993
$820
+17% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$863
+18% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,056
+11% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,377
+16% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$239,300
+4% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$65,060
+12% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$47,230
+1% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
31.6 yr
+3.5 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
52.7%
+5.7 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
46.2%
+19.1 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
24.0 min
22.2 min
+1.8 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
268.6
+74% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,294.1
+63% 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
61.5°F
+4.6°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
36.5 in
+9.5 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
14.3
+26% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$31.25
+5% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
None
4.5%
+4.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.50%
+2.1 pp in DE

Dover vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Norman?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Norman?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).