Dover Base Housing: Demographics & People
Dover Base Housing is home to 2,962 people, in 1,113 households. Population shrank 2.1% from 3,026 (2022) to 2,962 (2024). Median age 26.2 years. (12.6y younger than Kent County; 10.8y younger than Delaware). Children under 18 are 36% of the population. Population is 60% White (non-Hispanic) and 27% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.50). 79% of households are family-led. County is gaining 4,137 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.7 people per household (vs Delaware avg 2.5).
- 21% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Delaware 41%).
- 62 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Delaware 70).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.1% from 3,026 (2022) to 2,962 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,899 (extrapolated at -1.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,817.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 181,851 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,026 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,962 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 2,962 people (vs Delaware 13,439) |
| Population Estimate | 2,817 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 26.2y is 12.7 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 36% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 26.2 years (vs Delaware 37.0y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 36.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,962 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,066 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,117.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 710.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 69 |
| Population under 18 | 1,066 |
| Median age | 26.2 years (vs Delaware 37.0y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,962 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.50 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 2,427 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 346 |
| Asian residents | 11 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 949 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 50.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 65.0% |
| Asian population | 0.3% (vs Delaware 2.9%) |
| Black population | 9.5% (vs Delaware 26.7%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 26.8% (vs Delaware 10.7%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 60.1% (vs Delaware 51.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 337 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,424 |
| Share born in this state | 11.4% |
| Share born in another state | 88.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 164 |
| From Europe | 39 |
| From Asia | 39 |
| From Africa | 41 |
Households & Family Composition
1,113 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 79% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 923 families, 65% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,078 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 923 |
| Married couples with children | 601 |
| Single-parent households | 47 |
| Average household size | 2.67 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 4 |
| Family households | 881 households (vs Delaware 3,428) |
| Households that are families | 79.2% (vs Delaware 58.6%) |
| Total households | 1,113 households (vs Delaware 5,560) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 44.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 4,137 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 44.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 173,087 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 168,950 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 4,137 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 90 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | at-large |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | DE-AL |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 10001 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 001 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Kent |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 15.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 13.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 16.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 10001 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Kent County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 7,347 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 10001 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Kent County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 69.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 59.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 49.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 180,786 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 36.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,962, declining, young community, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,962 people (vs Delaware 13,439) |
| Town Summary · County | Kent County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade