Cost of Living in Dover, NJ

Population 18,420 · New Jersey · Data vintage 2023

121

Cost Index
(100 = US avg)

Page updated: April 2026 · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year

Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Dover is a smaller New Jersey community of around 18000 residents, where median household incomes of $70,519 and housing costs ($347,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape.

Dover sits roughly 20 miles west of Paterson — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Housing prices track closely with Paterson's $335,000 median.

Cost Overview

Housing 114

Rent 133

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Dover

The median home value in Dover is $347,100 — 14% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,743/month, 33% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $70,519/year is 5% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, below the national average of 4.8%. New Jersey's top state income tax rate is 10.8% and the combined sales tax is 6.6%. The climate averages highs of 60.7°F and lows of 40.2°F. Overall, Dover has a cost of living index of 121 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 21% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value

$347,100

14% above avg

Zillow Home Value

$497,747

Zillow ZHVI

Median Rent

$1,743/mo

33% above avg

Price-to-Rent Ratio

16.6x

Favors buying

Property Tax Rate

2.5%

Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio

$1,474

1 BR

$1,654

2 BR

$2,040

3 BR

$2,550

4 BR

$2,885

Owner-occupied 44.1%

Renter-occupied 55.9%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent

$1,743

Groceries national estimate

$400

Utilities local estimate

$88

Transportation local gas prices

$126

Estimated Total $2,357/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚

Eggs (dozen)

$0.548

🍞

White Bread (lb)

$1.912

🥩

Ground Beef (lb)

$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute

29.2 min

8% above avg

Gas Price

$3.145/gal

0% below avg

Work From Home

5.5%

Commute Mode

Drove alone

65.1%

Carpooled

12.3%

Public transit

2.7%

Walked

3.5%

Work from home

5.5%

⚡ Utilities

Electricity

$0.176/kWh

0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 10.8%

Total Sales Tax 6.6%

State rate 6.6%

Avg local rate -0.0%

Property Tax 2.5%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income

$70,519

5% below avg

Per Capita Income

$31,603

Unemployment Rate

4.6%

5% below avg

Poverty Rate

11.6%

Labor Force Participation

72.5%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 13.1%

Graduate degree 4.2%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 41

Male median age 39.7

Female median age 42.4

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High

60.7°F

Avg Low

40.2°F

Annual Precip

48.8"

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	36	39	48	61	71	79	84	82	74	63	52	41
Low °F	19	20	28	38	48	57	62	60	52	42	32	25
Precip"	3.27	2.83	4.07	3.78	3.83	4.54	5.06	4.85	4.32	4.64	3.43	4.18

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 37 — Good

86.5%

Good air days/yr

154

Max AQI recorded

PM2.5 days

311

Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

91%

4-Year Graduation Rate

15.4:1

Student-teacher ratio

Public schools

3,389

Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Dover, NJ?

Dover has a cost index of 121 (100 = national average). It is 21% above the national average.

What is average rent in Dover, NJ?

The median gross rent in Dover is $1,743 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Dover?

The median home value in Dover is $347,100 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Dover?

The median household income in Dover is $70,519 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Dover, NJ?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Dover is 6.6%. The New Jersey state income tax top rate is 10.8%.

Is Dover, NJ affordable?

Dover is above average in cost of living, with an index of 121 — about 21% higher than the national average.

What is the weather like in Dover?

Dover has average high temperatures of 60.7°F and average lows of 40.2°F. Annual precipitation is 48.8". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Dover at a Glance

Population: 18,420
Median Income: $70,519
Home Value: $347,100
Median Rent: $1,743/mo
Unemployment: 4.6%
Avg High Temp: 60.7°F
Sales Tax: 6.6%

View all cities in New Jersey →

Nearby Cities

🗺️ County data for New Jersey

Explore county-level cost of living data

New Jersey Rankings

Similar Cost Cities

Cities in other states with comparable housing costs