Is Dover or Wilmington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Wilmington is safer than Dover (Safety Score 7/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 4,286 per 100,000 versus 7,082 for Dover — 39% lower. Dover has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Dover has a 55% lower rate.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Dover, DE?
Dover — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Wilmington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Dover, DE
Wilmington, DE
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Dover | Wilmington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 7,082.1 | 4,285.8 | +2,796.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,012.8 | 1,127.1 | -114.3 |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 34.7 | -17.3 |
| Rape Rate | 39.9 | 7.0 | +33.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 114.8 | 254.3 | -139.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 840.7 | 831.0 | +9.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 6,069.3 | 3,158.8 | +2,910.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 139.7 | 486.4 | -346.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 5,572.9 | 2,001.2 | +3,571.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 356.7 | 671.2 | -314.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover or Wilmington safer?
Wilmington is safer with a total crime rate of 4,286 per 100K vs 7,082 for Dover — a 39% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Dover has a violent crime rate of 1,012.8 per 100K while Wilmington has 1,127.1. Dover 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 Wilmington, DE
Wilmington, Delaware, a port city on the Christina River, is home to the Rollins Building, a historic landmark. Its diverse population of roughly 70,000 resides just 30 miles south of Philadelphia. With a safety score of 7/100 and a population coverage of 71,958, Wilmington has a total crime rate of 4,285.8 per 100,000 residents.