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C+

Is Dover, New Jersey Safe?

Population 18,919 · Safer than 41% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Dover is a smaller community of 18,919 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 200.3 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,116 per 100K.

Dover Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricDoverNew Jersey AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate230.4303.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1773.12034.11,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate144.0--268.2
Theft Rate1116.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate357.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC+

200.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

230/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1773/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Dover

Violent crime in Dover is below the national average. The rate of 230.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1773.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,116 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Dover Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault144
054% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary238
088% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,116
080% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft357
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Dover Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Dover
230.4
State
303.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Dover
1773.1
State
2034.1
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dover Safety

Is Dover safe?
It depends on where in Dover you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Dover?
200.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 230.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1773.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Dover safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Dover has a C+ grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Dover?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Dover generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Dover police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Dover?
No. Crime in Dover has been trending down, which is good news for the C+-rated city.
How does Dover compare to other cities in New Jersey?
Middle of the pack for New Jersey. Dover isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 43th percentile among New Jersey cities.
How safe is Dover to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Dover?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 41th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Dover?
230.4 per 100,000, which is 37% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (144), robbery (48), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

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View all New Jersey city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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