Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 21% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$993
$760
+23% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$772
+26% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$926
+22% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,158
+29% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$165,200
+34% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$45,984
+21% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$45,780
+2% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
42.9%
+4.1 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
30.3%
+3.2 pp in Springfield, MO
Avg Commute
24.0 min
18.0 min
+6.0 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
1,189.8
+16% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
6,159.1
4,231.6
+31% 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
56.3°F
+0.6°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
45.6 in
+0.5 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
16.2
+16% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$28.78
+3% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Dover, DE
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / MO)
None
4.225%
+4.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.70%
+1.9 pp in DE

Dover vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Springfield?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).