Uprootmap
Philadelphia vs Dover
Philadelphia and Dover
Photo: Tim Kiser / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Dover are close to the US rate in this release, 6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Philadelphia to Dover
In 2022-2023, 639 households filed a move from Philadelphia to Dover (about 1,286 people, average adjusted gross income $61,628). 320 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,530 in Philadelphia and $1,336 in Dover. Philadelphia has a state tax on wages. Dover has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Dover is 90% of the national level for the same work, against 104% in Philadelphia.
Dover averages 214 sunny days, with July highs around 88°F and January nights around 34°F. Philadelphia is 207 sunny days, 87°F in July, 26°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Dover and 30 in Philadelphia.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 639 households moved Philadelphia → Dover (about 1,286 people, average AGI $61,628). 320 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Philadelphia and Dover changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 67 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $350–$700
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Dig into Dover
Questions
Is Dover cheaper than Philadelphia after tax and rent?
Yes. Dover leaves about $223 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,530 in Philadelphia and $1,336 in Dover.
Does Dover have state income tax?
Dover is in Delaware, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Philadelphia to Dover?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.