F
130%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
122%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
132%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleDover/100k peopleDelaware/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,056n/a (estimate)5,3492,3482,324
Murder3n/a7.84.86.3
Rape24n/a62.422.040.0
Robbery22n/a57.257.066.1
Assault266n/a692.0299.8268.2
Violent crime315n/a (estimate)820384370
Burglary26n/a67.6203.1269.8
Theft1,541n/a4,009.11,591.11,401.9
Vehicle theft174n/a452.7169.9282.7
Property crime1,741n/a (estimate)4,5291,9641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Dover, DE

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Dover crime rate is higher than the national average by 130.1%. Specifically, there were 315 violent crimes in Dover, equivalent to 820 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the national average by 121.6%. Furthermore, Dover recorded 1741 property crimes, amounting to 4529 per 100,000 residents, which was higher than the average by 131.8%.

With a total of 5349 crimes per 100,000 people, the Dover crime rates stand at 130.14 higher than the national average. Consequently, the area grapples with one of the nation's highest total crime rates. Addressing this challenge is crucial for enhancing the safety and livability in Dover, making it a priority to reduce crime through community engagement, effective law enforcement, and collaborative efforts to secure a better future for residents and prospective residents.

Dover ranks among the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities reporting violent crime, earning its reputation as one of the nation's most dangerous areas. With a violent crime rate of 820 per 100,000 people, Dover is considered one of the most unsafe cities in America. This statistic translates to a 1 in 123 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Dover, underscoring the need for increased safety measures and community engagement to improve the city's security.

Dover has some of the highest property crime rates in the country with 4529 crimes per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all American cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of property crime in Dover is 1 in 23, which is far higher than the national average.

Vehicle thefts across all of America are on the rise and Dover has one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. In the most recent crime report, Dover reported 174 vehicle thefts, which equates to 453 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This falls in the bottom 10% of all cities, meaning that 90% of cities have better vehicle theft rates. The chance of having your vehicle stolen in Dover is 1 in 221.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Dover?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Dover residents. Out of the respondents (47 in total), 28% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Dover were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 72% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Dover a Safe Place to Live?

Is Dover a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Dover has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 130%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 5.63 daily incidents, encompassing 0.86 violent crimes and 4.77 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Dover as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Dover Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Dover has increased by 9.7% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Dover is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 12%, while property crime has increased by 14.8%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Dover.

Potential Causes for Crime in Dover

Limited employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-wage jobs can result in higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Regions where individuals grapple with joblessness or meager wages may exhibit greater vulnerability to an uptick in crime due to financial instability. While areas that have strong employment rates, often will see a reduction in overall crime. Dover, for instance, reports an unemployment rate of 5%, which differs from the national average of 4.7%.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Dover, the cost of living is 1.55% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Dover has a median home price of $182,100, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Dover crime map



The Dover crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Dover as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Dover crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Dover crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Dover, DE Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Dover crime rates are 130% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Dover are 122% higher than the national average
      • In Dover you have a 1 in 19 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Dover is safer than 4% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Dover has increased by 10%

      Dover, DE Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Dover

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        Daily Crime In Dover (per 100,000 people)

        The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Dover, per 100,000 residents. In Dover, the total number of daily crimes is 2.28 times more than the Delaware average and 2.30 times more than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Dover are 2.14 times more than the Delaware average and 2.22 times more than the national average. For property crime, Dover has a daily crime rate that is 2.31 times more than the Delaware average and 2.32 times more than the daily national average.

        How Safe is Dover (higher is better)

        Are people any safer living in Dover in comparison to other Delaware communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Dover safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Dover being safer than 14% of cities in Delaware and 4% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking Delaware cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Dover. In conclusion, Dover ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Dover

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Dover is 1 in 123
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Dover is 1 in 23
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Dover is 1 in 19
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Dover, Delaware? If you reside in Dover, then there is a 1 in 123 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 23. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 19 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Dover.

        Year Over Year Crime In Dover (per 100,000 people)

        Determining whether Dover is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Dover violent crime rates have decreased by 12%. At the same time, property crime has increased by 15% year over year. Total crimes for Dover has increased by 10% in the same time frame.

        Dover police department

        Item Dover Delaware National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)120962558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.25.43.3
        There are a total of 120 Dover police officers. This results in 3.2 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 39.5% less than the Delaware average and 0.1% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Delaware

        State Total offenders Delaware /100K National /100K
        Delaware4,039505266
        There are a total of 4,039 sex offenders in Delaware. This yields a total of 505 sex offenders in Delaware per 100,000 residents which is 90% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Clayton, DE3,39375749824
        Riverview, DE2,557141721862
        Highland Acres, DE3,9131718731,044
        Kent Acres, DE1,8321779041,081
        Rodney Village, DE1,1651909711,161
        Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE4,1701939891,182
        Woodside East, DE2,1672261,1561,382
        Dover, DE37,8728204,5295,349

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Kailua, HI37,9001241,1631,287
        Fort Lee, NJ37,8431541,3571,511
        Longview, WA37,9143504,4854,835
        Rosenberg, TX37,8162821,7171,999
        Hanover Park, IL37,8113532,0712,424
        Dover, DE37,8728204,5295,349
        Source: The Dover, DE crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.