Doverffd, 2009
Dover’s story
194 years in pictures
Census counts: 368 in 1880, 1,337 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 4 maps from 1888 on.
- 1832Dover is settled
DoverAR
Public schools that outperform most of Arkansas.
Photo: Photolitherland (talk) Chris Litherland · CC BY 3.0
Population
1,385
2025 Census estimate · +4.4% since 2020
Typical home
$217K
+1.5% in a year
Household income
$32K
median
Median age
32.5
years
Jobs based here
491
Balanced
Is Dover a good place to live?
The best of Dover’s subject grades are an A− for schools and a B for cost of living; the weakest is a D− for incomes. 31% of residents live below the poverty line in Dover, above both the Arkansas town median (18%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 90% of U.S. towns. Among 124 Arkansas towns, just 3 have a higher average trip to work than Dover. Dover has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Dover stand out
Where Dover beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Small town
1,385 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Dover grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Dover is from typical.
Jobs & income$32K median household incomeD−Open →HealthSt. Marys Regional Medical Center 7.7 miles awayDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.5 of 20; 9.3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0% conserved landCOpen →HistoryC+Open →Civic life1.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Dover: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dover, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Arkansas13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDover WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Dover’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personArkansas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePope County ClerkPope County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2021
ZIP codes72837, 7280272837 97% · 72802 3%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dover.
HealthD
Residents of Dover are less healthy than 92% of U.S. towns
Dover beats the Arkansas average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 45% of Dover adults have obesity, above both Arkansas’ towns (39%) and U.S. towns (35%). 21% of Dover adults report frequent mental distress.
8%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Dover | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 39% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 34% | 25% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Arkansas
0 better28 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Dover | AR |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 27% | 18.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.5% | 8.6% |
| More adults with arthritis | 32.2% | 28.5% |
St. Marys Regional Medical Center
7.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsA−
On state tests, Dover’s schools beat 76% of Arkansas districts
Its public schools are run by the Dover School District. Its three schools are below. The largest public high school is Dover High School, with 375 students.
76%of AR districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 455 | A |
| Dover High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 375 | B− |
| Dover Middle SchoolTop results in townGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 375 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than Arkansas overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 21% of residents (37% statewide); children under 18 are 32% of residents (23% statewide). The median age in Dover is 32.5 years. Dover has grown 4.4% since 2020, to 1,385 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
32.5median age · AR 38.5
| Dover | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 years | 36.6 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 16% | 20% | 29% |
DoverArkansasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma18%
High school34%
Some college21%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s14%
Graduate3%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.7 points. Across Arkansas, 50.6% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 70% are men (AR 42%).
| Dover | AR | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 22.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.3% | 10.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.4% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 4.5% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 6.7% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.6% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.9% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 18.3% | 11.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.3% | 34.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.5% | 20.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.7% | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 13.6% | 16.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 2.7% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,400, single groups can be off by several points
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Dover
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Dover since 2011.
76risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
1
paid flood claims since 2011
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Dover
Dover has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. Dover’s July high is 92°F.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–52°
Spring48–72°
Summer68–91°
Fall49–73°
Nov 2
typical first frost
Apr 1
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Dover stands out in Arkansas and nationally: the median household income there is lower
5.1% of working residents work locally in Dover. Since 2013, Dover has lost 77 jobs, to 491 in 2023. The top destinations are Russellville (42%), Little Rock (6%) and Clarksville (3%).
5%work in town
| Dover | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 22% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Dover5%
Russellville42%
Little Rock6%
Clarksville3%
Conway3%
10 mi
median commute distance
491
jobs based in Dover
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 10% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Dover
Dover's reported crime rate is well below Arkansas's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2024.
| Dover | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 2.2 per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 1.7 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 10.3 per 1,000 residents | 17.5 | 11.5 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Dover2.2
Arkansas5.9
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Dover10.3
Arkansas19.7
U.S.17.7
3
violent crimes reported in 2024
14
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B
Homes in Dover are worth about $217K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Dover home is worth about $217,000, up 1.5% in a year, close to the Arkansas typical home.
$217KZillow home value
| Dover | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $816 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 69% | 60% | 73% |
Typical home value
Dover$217K
Arkansas$224K
+1.5%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsC
Conserved land covers 0.1% of Dover
0.1%conserved
0.1%
conserved · 2 of 1,804 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dover City Park | — | 8 |
| 2. Ozark-Saint Francis National Forest | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dover
19pages on Dover
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 76% of AR districts · 3 schoolsSafety2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthDBetter than AR on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$217K typical home · up 1.5% in a yearWork & commuteD−$32K median household income · 491 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 76% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Dover
About 1 of every 100 Dover residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
About Dover
City in Arkansas, United States
Dover is a town in Pope County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,337 at the 2020 census. Dover is located in the Arkansas River Valley, and is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1832
- Area
- 2.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 446 ft
- ZIP code
- 72837
- Area code
- 479
Questions about Dover
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dover, AR a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Arkansas.
Is Dover, AR expensive?
That is 3.8 years of the area's median household income ($57,102 across the Russellville, AR area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.