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City · 33,364 residents · Strafford County, New Hampshire

Dover , New Hampshire

In Dover, a typical home is worth $436,700 and typical rent is $1,607 a month. Compared with all of Strafford County, the typical home value is 20% higher, typical rent is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $436,700

    20% above the county

    8% above New Hampshire

    • Dover
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

  • Typical rent

    $1,607a month

    8% above the county

    8% above New Hampshire

    • Dover
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

  • Typical household income

    $94,829a year

    7% above the county

    4% below New Hampshire

    • Dover
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    14 points below the county

    20 points below New Hampshire

    • Dover
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$541,297
1.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,292 a month
2.4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Dover is in Strafford County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Strafford County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Dover apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Rochester, the typical home value is $279,100: 36% less than in Dover ($436,700).

  2. 53% of households in Dover own their home, against 67% in Strafford County.

  3. Nearby, in Durham, the typical rent is $1,302: 19% less than in Dover ($1,607).

  4. The typical home in Dover is worth $436,700, 20% more than in Strafford County as a whole ($362,800).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Dover

What homes there are in Dover, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Dover there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (41%); in Strafford County, 55%.

Year built

The typical year built in Dover is 1976, about the same as in Strafford County (1979).

There are fewer big homes in Dover than in Strafford County: 45% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 55%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,541 a month

Strafford County: $2,330 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,122 a month

Strafford County: $975 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Strafford County: 61%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Dover is $2,541 a month, more than in Strafford County ($2,330); without one, $1,122.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Dover gained value faster than in Strafford County: 65% against 54%.

Much as in Strafford County, the typical rent in Dover rose 39% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Dover rose 32%: less than home values (+65%) and rent (+39%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDoverStrafford CountyNew HampshireUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.1%4.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.4%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.5%1.4%3.4%
People per household 2.152.392.442.53
Drive alone 69%72%72%69%
Carpool 5%6%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 3%4%3%3%
Work from home 19%16%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Dover has 2.15 people, fewer than in Strafford County (2.39).

To get to work, 69% of workers in Dover drive alone; in Strafford County, 72%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Dover?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Dover, worth $436,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Dover, which is $94,829 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $170,044 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Strafford County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Dover. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $15,285 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,968

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$428,790
Total interest
$616,928
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,375 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,213 a month

  • Tight

    $2,213 to $2,845 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,845 a month

    Your payment · 50%

Compared with the typical household income in Dover ($94,829 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,968
Principal & interest$2,905
Property tax$688
Home insurance$182
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$193

You need at least $15,285 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Dover and Strafford County

Dover is in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Dover's own numbers

Typical home value
$436,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,607
Typical yearly household income
$94,829
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
1.89%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Strafford County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,093
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+70%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Strafford County.

Everything about Strafford County

Buying

Buying a home in Dover

A typical home in Dover is worth $436,700: 20% above the county and 8% above New Hampshire. With the typical household income in Dover ($94,829 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Dover 4.6 years
  • Strafford 4.1 years
  • New Hampshire 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Strafford County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Strafford County rose 120% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Strafford County.

Period County New Hampshire U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.3% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +70% +66% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +120% +113% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Dover next to Strafford County, New Hampshire and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Dover $436,700
  • Strafford $362,800
  • New Hampshire $402,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Dover $1,607
  • Strafford $1,488
  • New Hampshire $1,491
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Dover $94,829
  • Strafford $88,570
  • New Hampshire $99,031
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Dover next to Strafford County and New Hampshire
Measure Dover Strafford County New Hampshire U.S.
Typical home value $436,700 $362,800 $402,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,607 $1,488 $1,491 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $94,829 $88,570 $99,031 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 67% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $8,249 $6,708 $6,667 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.89% 1.85% 1.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 49% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Strafford County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Dover

For a typical $436,700 home in Dover, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Dover's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,968a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $15,285
    Cash to close
    $28,386
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $193

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,888a month

    Down payment
    $21,835
    Cash to close
    $34,936
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $207

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,236a month

    Down payment
    $87,340
    Cash to close
    $100,441
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,640a month

    Down payment
    $65,505
    Cash to close
    $78,606
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Dover and for Strafford County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Dover

1.89%of the home’s value each year

$8,249 a year for the typical owner in Dover.

  • Dover 1.89%
  • Strafford 1.85%
  • New Hampshire 1.66%

What New Hampshire publishes Deadline to apply for exemptions and credits: April 15 (New Hampshire General Court (Revised Statutes Annotated))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Hampshire

Flood risk in Strafford County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Strafford County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
635
Of those, with NFIP insurance
14%
County New Hampshire U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 14% 26% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Dover

Typical rent in Dover is $1,607 a month: 8% above the county. In Dover, 49% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Strafford County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,093 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $40.25 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Strafford County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,489 $28.63 $59,560
1 bedroom $1,600 $30.77 $64,000
2 bedrooms $2,093 $40.25 $83,720
3 bedrooms $2,494 $47.96 $99,760
4 bedrooms $2,813 $54.10 $112,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Dover

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Dover is in ZIP code 03820.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,040: $53 less than the fair market rent for Strafford County ($2,093).

  • 03820 $2,040$2,430

A ZIP code counts for Dover when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Dover

HUD lists 17 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Dover. These are the largest.

  • Amp 3-Ct,wt,sj 3 Green St, Dover 03820 184 low-income homes · Run by Dover Housing Authority · Average payment: $550 a month · Average wait: 25 months · Homes at several sites (603) 742-5804
  • Whittier Falls Whittier Street, Dover 184 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 70 · 3 bd: 80 · 4 bd: 22 · In service since 2017 · For families
  • Redden Gardens 24 Adelle Dr, Dover 150 homes, 113 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 114 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2000
  • Westgate Village 1 Marthas Way, Dover 130 homes, 91 low-income · 2 bd: 35 · 3 bd: 95 · In service since 1995
  • Amp 2- Np,uc,ebt 3A Edgar Bois Ter, Dover 03820 90 low-income homes · Run by Dover Housing Authority · Average payment: $505 a month · Average wait: 87 months · Homes at several sites (603) 742-5804

See all 43 buildings in Strafford County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Dover

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Strafford County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Dover

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Dover or Strafford County. The ones below are statewide in New Hampshire: they work in Dover the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Housing Cash Downpayment Assistance

    Statewide in New Hampshire

    New Hampshire state agency cash assistance of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for the down payment with an NH Housing mortgage; open to any buyer who qualifies, not only first-time buyers. Offered by New Hampshire Housing.

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • 1stGenHomeNH

    Statewide in New Hampshire

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    New Hampshire state agency help of $10,000 for the down payment, closing costs and the escrow account, as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or leave the home; for first-generation buyers, people who were in foster care, or refugees or asylees. Offered by New Hampshire Housing.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Dover

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Dover, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • The Housing Partnership

    222 International Dr Ste 165, Portsmouth · 9 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (603) 431-3620

  • Neighborworks of Southern New Hampshire

    801 Elm St, Manchester · 32 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (603) 626-4663

  • New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

    32 Constitution Dr, Bedford · 35 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (603) 472-8623

All counseling agencies in New Hampshire

Help in Spanish near Dover

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Dover

HUD’s record names them for Dover or Strafford County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Dover Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (603) 742-5804

2 other authorities have an office in Strafford County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Strafford County

These cities are also in Strafford County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Strafford County Housing in New Hampshire

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Dover, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Strafford County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Dover.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Dover

Short answers with the numbers for Dover and all of Strafford County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Dover?

The typical home value in Dover is $436,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Strafford County it is $362,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Dover?

Typical rent in Dover is $1,607 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Strafford County is $2,093.

What is the FHA loan limit in Dover?

Dover uses the FHA limit for all of Strafford County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Dover?

The typical homeowner in Dover pays $8,249 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.89% of the home’s value; in Strafford County, the rate is 1.85%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Dover?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Strafford County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).