Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 6% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio
$993
$893
+10% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$856
+18% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,097
+7% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,207
+26% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$176,400
+29% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$55,000
+6% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
48.5 yr
+13.4 yr in Rutland, VT
Homeownership
47.0%
52.7%
+5.7 pp in Rutland, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
32.2%
+5.1 pp in Rutland, VT
Avg Commute
24.0 min
14.7 min
+9.3 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
487.8
+52% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,973.3
+35% 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
44.6°F
+12.3°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
40.5 in
+5.6 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
24.4
+27% in Rutland, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$26.07
+12% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
8.75%
+2.2 pp in VT

Dover vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Rutland?
Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Rutland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Rutland?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).