Is Dover or Milford Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Milford is safer than Dover (Safety Score 6/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 4,441 per 100,000 versus 7,082 for Dover — 37% lower. Dover has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Milford has a 57% lower rate.
Note: Dover is 2.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Dover — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Milford — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Dover, DE
Milford, DE
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Dover | Milford | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 7,082.1 | 4,441.1 | +2,641.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,012.8 | 791.3 | +221.5 |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 21.4 | -3.9 |
| Rape Rate | 39.9 | 35.6 | +4.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 114.8 | 49.9 | +64.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 840.7 | 684.4 | +156.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 6,069.3 | 3,649.8 | +2,419.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 139.7 | 313.7 | -174.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 5,572.9 | 3,029.7 | +2,543.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 356.7 | 306.5 | +50.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover or Milford safer?
Milford is safer with a total crime rate of 4,441 per 100K vs 7,082 for Dover — a 37% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Dover has a violent crime rate of 1,012.8 per 100K while Milford has 791.3. Milford has lower violent crime.
About Dover, DE
Dover, Delaware, the state capital, is a small city on the St. Jones River. Home to Dover International Speedway, it's the second-largest city in Delaware with a population just under 40,000. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 40,087, Dover has a total crime rate of 7,082.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Milford, DE
Milford, a city bisected by the Mispillion River, boasts a rich shipbuilding history, once producing magnificent tall ships. Located across both Kent and Sussex counties, it is a small city experiencing steady growth. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 14,028, Milford has a total crime rate of 4,441.1 per 100,000 residents.