Real Estate Investing in Dover, Delaware (19901)

Kent County • Population: 39,149 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 19901 (Dover, DE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Dover, DE (19901)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $334,303
Avg Monthly Rent $1,547
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,809
% Renters 44.5%

Market Analysis: 19901 Dover

ZIP 19901 in Dover, DE carries a sturdy set of headwinds. Home values near $334K and rents of $1,547/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 19901 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $334K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In practical terms, 19901 offers a low basis, the region around Dover has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 19901 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 19901 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Dover:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,547/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Dover, DE Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
38 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Dover, DE metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 19901

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$94,477/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $238,198 $1,540 4.7% +8.7% $119,099
3BR $304,854 $2,140 5.1% +8.4% $101,618
4BR $392,343 $2,390 4.4% +7.5% $98,086
5BR $472,386 +7.5% $94,477

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$349K$308K$267K$226K$184K$143KOct 2011Feb 2019May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,719$1,667$1,616$1,564$1,512$1,460Oct 2022Aug 2024May 2026

📊 How Does 19901 Compare?

Metric 19901 Dover Dover, DE Delaware
Home Value $334,303 $169,663 N/A $397,840
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.7% N/A 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,547 $1,631 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 19901? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 45% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19901 (Dover, DE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dover, DE metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
41%
Days Pending
0/2
38 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $334,303
Monthly Rent $1,547
Price-to-Rent 18.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19901

Population: 39,149

💰 Median Household Income
$61,809
This area
$61,809
State
$82,016
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.5%
This area
44.5%
State
21.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-26.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.3%
This area
26.3%
State
2.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.4 years
This area
33.4 years
State
-1.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
13.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 52.5%
Black/African American 31.3%
Other/Mixed 13.2%
Hispanic/Latino 7.6%
Asian 3.1%
👶 Under 18
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 19901

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.6:1 Avg Class Size
$21,252 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

East Dover Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,800 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Major George S. Welch Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,245 Per Student
A Very Good

South Dover Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
606 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,800 Per Student
A Very Good

Towne Point Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,800 Per Student
A Very Good

Dover Air Force Base Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
132 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,245 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Star Hill Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
124 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,245 Per Student
C+ Average

Early College School at Del State

📚 07 – 12 High School Charter
👥
533 Students
👨‍🏫
25.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,626 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 4,203 Off-Campus Students
C+
Delaware State University
5,828 students · 3.5 mi
D
Delaware Technical Community College-Central Office
0 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry
13,231 students · 4.7 mi
B
Polytech Adult Education
631 students · 7.9 mi
D
All In The Wrist Barber Academy
17 students · 11.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,203 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly do rentals get leased in Dover, DE?

Vacancy in Dover, DE is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,547/mo.

Should investors consider Dover, DE?

Dover, DE stands at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $334K and average rents around $1,547/mo. That combination puts it in the healthy tier for investor interest.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Dover, DE?

Dover, DE draws a measured base of working renters. Demand at the $1,547/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is rental property easy to operate in Dover, DE?

DE ranks as a balanced state for landlord-tenant law. Dover generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Where do home prices stand in Dover, DE?

Expect median prices around $334K in Dover, DE. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

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