The Town FilesDover, New Jersey
Town in Morris County · population 18,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $366,700
- Household income
- $73,737
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.8
Dover is a town of 18,460 people in Morris County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $366,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 92% of New Jersey towns, more of a college town than 91% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 87% of New Jersey towns.
How Dover ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dover is worth $366,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $73,737, which is more affordable than 19% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,825 a month. 46.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dover | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $366,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,825 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $73,737 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.0% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dover
| People | Dover | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 50.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 94.6% |
Weather in Dover
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1973 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 7, 2013.
Severe weather in Morris County since 1996
Morris County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Morris County
Morris County had 298,824 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $101,208 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Dover itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Dover
7 public schools with 3,851 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover High School | 9-12 | 1,176 | 13.1 |
| North Dover Elementary School | PK-6 | 612 | 10.9 |
| Academy Street Elementary School | PK-6 | 548 | 13.7 |
| Dover Middle School | 7-8 | 483 | 11.2 |
| East Dover Elementary School | PK-6 | 443 | 12.3 |
| Dennis B O'Brien Elementary School | PK-5 | 295 | 9.2 |
| Birchwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 294 | 9.5 |
Towns near Dover
- Wharton, NJ1.1 mi · 7,241 people · home $380,700
- Mine Hill, NJ2.3 mi · 4,015 people · home $434,100
- Rockaway, NJ2.3 mi · 6,598 people · home $448,100
- Mount Hope, NJ2.3 mi · 2,930 people · home $398,000
- Randolph, NJ3.2 mi · 26,504 people · home $670,700
- White Meadow Lake, NJ3.7 mi · 8,710 people · home $470,800
- Denville, NJ3.7 mi · 17,107 people · home $564,600
- Roxbury, NJ4.8 mi · 22,950 people · home $465,700
Dover questions
Is Dover, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dover scores better for retirees than 17% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 6%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Dover?
The median owner-occupied home in Dover is valued at $366,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,737, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,825 a month.
What is the weather like in Dover?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Dover get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1973. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)