What is the cost of living in Dover, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dover has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Dover has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Dover ranks as #68 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Dover ranks as the #194 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Dover, check out:
Dover Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dover. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dover is 109.
The Groceries index in Dover is 110.
The Health index in Dover is 149.
The Housing index in Dover is 112.
The Transportation index in Dover is 110.
The Utilities index in Dover is 110.
| Living Expense | Dover | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 149 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 113 | 100 |
Dover Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Dover Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Dover, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Dover is $507,728.
The Median Rent in Dover is $1,825.
The Median Income in Dover is $73,737.
The Home Value To Income in Dover is 6.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dover is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Dover | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $507,728 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,825 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,737 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.9x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Dover, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Dover Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dover | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.15 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $29.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.36 | $45.56 |
Detailed Dover Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dover | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.64 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.66 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Dover Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dover | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $105.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $117.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dover Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dover | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $77.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dover Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Dover | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.61 | $192.25 |
Dover SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dover
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dover. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 182, 1.5x Dover.
Florham Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 174, 1.4x Dover.
Oakland, NJ has a cost of living index of 149, 1.2x Dover.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.5x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Oakland, NJ | 12,768 | 149 | 1.2x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.4x |
| Lincoln Park, NJ | 10,957 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Succasunna, NJ | 9,799 | 141 | 1.2x |
| Boonton, NJ | 8,854 | 138 | 1.1x |
| White Meadow Lake, NJ | 8,842 | 139 | 1.1x |
| Wharton, NJ | 7,318 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Green Knoll, NJ | 6,789 | 145 | 1.2x |
