Dover Delaware Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Dover, DE (the Dover metro area) was $1,125 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Dover was $1,069 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Dover median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Dover rental vacancy rates, Dover rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Dover.
Real Gross Rent in Dover Delaware (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Delaware Median Gross Rent | $1,116 | -1.06% | +1.73% |
| Dover, DE Median Gross Rent | $1,125 | +8.70% | +7.76% |
Dover, DE Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,125, real median gross rent in Dover was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,069, real average gross rent in Dover was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Dover: Dover DE Median, Dover DE Average, Delaware Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Dover
| Date | US Median |
Delaware Median |
Dover, DE Median |
Dover, DE Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,116 | $1,125 | $1,069 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,128 | $1,035 | $985 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,120 | $1,008 | $962 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,097 | $1,044 | $1,024 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,113 | $1,056 | $1,039 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,081 | $1,082 | $1,046 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,052 | $1,006 | $986 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,021 | $996 | $981 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,037 | $1,012 | $995 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,064 | $1,072 | $986 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,082 | $1,017 | $932 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,069 | $1,056 | $1,053 |
| 2005 | $910 | $991 | $926 | $890 |
Dover Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Dover Delaware was 4.45% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Dover Delaware
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Delaware | 6.57% | +0.80% | -1.46% |
| Dover, DE | 4.45% | +0.85% | +1.02% |
Trends in Dover, DE Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Dover peaked in 2010 at 17.56%. Since then it has fallen by 13.11% to 4.45%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Dover DE, Delaware, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Dover
| Date | US | Delaware | Dover, DE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 6.57% | 4.45% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.77% | 3.60% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.46% | 8.16% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.03% | 3.43% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.12% | 5.33% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.15% | 3.78% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.35% | 4.45% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.90% | 8.66% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.59% | 11.68% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 13.41% | 17.56% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.42% | 7.20% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.42% | 2.02% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.12% | 6.66% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Dover, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Dover, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 23.28% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Dover Delaware Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Delaware | 19.08% | -1.43% | -1.28% |
| Dover, DE | 23.28% | +0.85% | +1.18% |
Trends in Dover, DE Rent as a Fraction of Income
Dover renters paid 23.28% of median household income towards the median monthly gross rent in 2019. This is the highest fraction of median household income going to rent since the series originated in 2005.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Dover DE, Delaware, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Dover Delaware
| Date | US | Delaware | Dover, DE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.08% | 23.28% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.52% | 22.43% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.73% | 20.37% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.36% | 22.10% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.55% | 21.03% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.58% | 22.27% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.72% | 20.91% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.72% | 21.23% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.59% | 21.41% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.46% | 21.07% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.03% | 20.79% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 20.00% | 23.06% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.13% | 18.42% |
Renter Fraction in Dover Delaware
You can calculate the renter fraction in Dover in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Dover as a fraction of total Dover households. In 2019 33.38% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Dover Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Delaware | 29.70% | +0.73% | -0.51% |
| Dover, DE | 33.38% | +1.37% | +0.37% |
Trends in the Dover, DE Renter Fraction
At 33.38%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Dover was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Dover DE, Delaware, US
History of Dover Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Delaware | Dover, DE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 29.70% | 33.38% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.97% | 32.01% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 29.05% | 29.63% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 30.21% | 33.01% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.19% | 32.25% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.72% | 32.85% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 28.32% | 28.07% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 29.17% | 28.38% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.40% | 30.11% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.03% | 24.55% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.38% | 25.03% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 27.50% | 29.46% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 27.64% | 26.57% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
