Dover: Demographics & People
About 39,837 people live in Dover, in 15,428 households. Population grew 0.9% from 39,491 (2022) to 39,837 (2024). Median age 34.7 years. (4.1y younger than Kent County; 2.3y younger than Delaware). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 45% Black and 34% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.62). 52% of households are family-led. County is gaining 4,137 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Delaware avg 2.5).
- 48% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Delaware 41%).
- 61 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Delaware 70).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.9% from 39,491 (2022) to 39,837 (2024) — about 1.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~40,188 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 40,661.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 181,851 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 39,491 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 39,837 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 39,837 people (vs Delaware 13,439) |
| Population Estimate | 40,661 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 34.7y is 4.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 34.7 years (vs Delaware 37.0y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 39,837 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 8,073 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 12,040.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 12,740.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 6,984 |
| Population under 18 | 8,073 |
| Median age | 34.7 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 39,837 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.62 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 14,749 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 17,849 |
| Asian residents | 1,094 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 4,464 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 61.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 46.8% |
| Asian population | 2.9% (at Delaware median) |
| Black population | 44.8% (vs Delaware 26.7%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 10.7% (at Delaware median) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 34.1% (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 | 16,023 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 18,237 |
| Share born in this state | 40.2% |
| Share born in another state | 59.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,765 |
| From Europe | 398 |
| From Africa | 800 |
| From Latin America | 55 |
Households & Family Composition
15,428 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 52% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 8,468 families, 19% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 8,040 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 8,468 |
| Married couples with children | 1,575 |
| Single-parent households | 274 |
| Average household size | 2.31 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 13.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 819 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 397 |
| Family households | 7,955 households (vs Delaware 3,428) |
| Households that are families | 51.6% (vs Delaware 58.6%) |
| Total households | 15,428 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. 14.8% 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) | 14.8% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 3,143 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.3% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 3,909 residents live in group quarters (9.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3,909 |
|---|
Other
| 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 | 22 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 23 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 39,837, stable, young professional, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 39,837 people (vs Delaware 13,439) |
| Town Summary · County | Kent County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade