Dover grades C− overall against UK towns: better than 19% of UK towns, and #65 of 87 in Kent. Its strongest subject is walkability (A): 25% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Its weakest is safety (D−): 65.9 violent and sexual offences and 21.9 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Among UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, it has less crime per resident than 4%. The median home sold for £218,950 in the last three years, 4.2 times what households in the Dover council area earn in a year.

StrongestAWalkabilityWeakestD⁻Safety DHealth

What makes Dover stand out

The 3 things Dover does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Homes built before 1919

History

Against 15% in the typical UK town

Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.

Claimant rate, against UK towns

Work

of 16 to 64s in 2026: more than in 96% of UK towns

DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.

Degree level, 16+

Education

Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)

Kent 29%.

How Dover grades

Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Dover is from typical. American towns are graded separately.

How grading works

SafetyD⁻Open →HealthLife expectancy 76.1 for men, 81 for womenDOpen →WalkabilityAOpen →Jobs & incomeC⁻Open →Hazard risk1.5% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaCOpen →Cost of livingrent £1,021 a monthBOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 16% of towns in England; secondary results beat 80% of towns in EnglandB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

HistoryAOpen →Outdoors86% live within 400 m of a park; 29% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA⁺Open →Civic life2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 26% live within 1 km of a libraryB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Dover Buckland, 1890s · Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain

Dover’s story

Dover in pictures

Historic England lists 140 buildings inside Dover’s built-up area, 3 of them Grade I, and 14 scheduled monuments.

43% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.

The archive holds 8 old photos and postcards going back to 1890 and a map from 1756.

c. 1890Sea front, Dover, England
1905Red Lion (Jackdaw Inn) in Denton, Dover, Kent, England
c. 1909M. Louis Bleriot Flies by Aeroplane from Calais to Dover

Explore the history →

Dover’s American namesakes

Three U.S. towns are named after Dover. The oldest, Dover, New Hampshire, was settled in 1623.

USUS edition

New Hampshire, USADoverSettled in 1623 · 34,623 people

Photo: MidniteOIL · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dover, New Hampshire, settled in 1623, takes its name from this large town.

Dover, Kent3,300 miles · Dover, NH

People34,62336,349 here

Typical home$541,000£219,000 here

Settled162319 places on the National Register

TownGradeB⁺against U.S. towns#60 of 125 in New Hampshire · here C− against UK towns

Explore Dover, NH

Also named after Dover:Dover, DE40,592 Dover, NY8,419

Named after: each U.S. town’s Wikipedia article. Grades compare each town with towns in its own country, so they aren’t a head-to-head.

Nearby attractions

Dover Bronze Age Boat and 27 more in and around Dover

Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Dover. Best known first.

All attractions →

MuseumDover Bronze Age Boatin town

MuseumDover Museumin town

FortAdmiralty Pier Turretin town

FortFort Burgoynein town

Castle · English HeritageDover Castle100 m outside town, to the east

Fort · English HeritageDover Western Heights200 m outside town, to the south

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (6)

Dover Bronze Age Boat: mari from tokyo, japan, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dover Museum: Nessy-Pic, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Admiralty Pier Turret: David Alan Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fort Burgoyne: Chris, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dover Castle: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dover Western Heights: Paul Wells, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Dover.

Safety

Dover has more crime per resident than 98% of UK towns

Town centres with shops, stations and nightlife record more crime per resident: police.uk counts crimes where they happen, not where victims live.

Burglary and damage came to 21.9 per 1,000 residents a year, above both Kent’s towns (12.3) and England’s towns (9.4). Police recorded 4,434 crimes inside Dover’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 1,042 reports of anti-social behaviour. Among the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, Dover has more crime per resident than 96% of them.

65.9violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearD⁻Safety Grade

Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 4% of the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.

More crimeLess crime

Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026

Violence & sexual2,045

Shoplifting636

Damage & arson507

Other theft282

Drugs194

Public order190

Vehicle crime180

Other crime154

Anti-social1,042

Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.

65.9

violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

21.9

burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

26.4

anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)

4,434

crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026

Full pageDover’s safety reportOpen the page

Safety Grade65.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 · Dover has more crime per resident than 98% of UK towns Crime by typeViolence & sexual leads Vs. the neighboursBehind its 7 graded neighbours Questions“Is Dover safe?”

data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL

SchoolsB⁻

Results at Dover’s schools trail 53% of towns in England

Three of its 17 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

B⁻School Grade

School	Level	Pupils	Letter
River Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary	Primary	384	B⁻
Dover Grammar School for BoysLargest secondary schoolSecondary	Secondary	960	A⁺
Temple Ewell Church of England Primary SchoolTop results in townPrimary	Primary	154	A⁺

Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 17 schools →

Who lives here

Fewer people in Dover hold a degree than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns: 22%

In the comparison, Dover comes below both Kent’s towns (29%) and England’s towns (34%). Half the people of Dover are older than 40.

40median age

DoverKentEngland

KentEngland

Ages · share of residents

18%

Qualifications · residents 16 and older

No qualifications21%

Apprenticeship6%

A levels or similar18%

Degree level22%

Women and men · all residents

50% women, 50% men

About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.

Ages and qualifications in Dover
	Dover	Kent	England
Under 15	18%	18%	18%
15–24	11%	11%	12%
25–44	27%	25%	27%
45–64	26%	26%	25%
65+	18%	19%	18%
No qualifications	21%	18%	18%
Apprenticeship	5.9%	5.7%	5.3%
A levels or similar	18%	18%	17%
Degree level	22%	29%	34%

Full pageDover’s Who lives here pageOpen the page

Ages40 median age · 18% are 65 or over Households15,773 households · 53% own their home Where people were born11% born outside the UK Questions“What is the population of Dover?”

ONS Census 2021 · Kent and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL

Health

Life expectancy in Dover is shorter than in 90% of UK towns

Women here live to 81 on average and men to 76.1 (2019–23). At the census, 22% of people here had a disability, above both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (17%). The nearest A&E to Dover is William Harvey Hospital, 16.4 miles away.

78%good or very good healthDHealth Grade

General health, self-reported

Good or very good 78%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 7%

Census 2021	Dover	Kent	England
Good or very good health	78%	82%	82%
Bad or very bad health	6.9%	5.1%	5.2%
Disabled (Equality Act)	22%	18%	17%

76.1

life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)

life expectancy at birth, women

Full pageDover’s health pageOpen the page

Health GradeLife expectancy: women 81, men 76.1 Getting care16.4 miles to A&E · William Harvey Hospital GP practices5 GP practices · 70% rate their practice good Census health78% in good health

ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL

History

Old homes shape Dover: 43% were built before 1919, more than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns

The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.

For Dover, that is above both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (16%). Dover’s listed buildings include Church of St Mary Sub-Castro, Grade I. Dover has 140 listed buildings on Historic England’s list: 3 Grade I, 13 Grade II*.

140listed buildingsAHistory Grade

Listed buildings by grade · Historic England

Grade I3

Grade II*13

Grade II124

Among them · Grade I

Church of St Mary Sub-Castro Grade I
Dover Town Hall, including the remains of the medieval Maison Dieu Grade I
The Roman Pharos Grade I

scheduled monuments

registered park and garden

43%

of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%

listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24

Full pageDover’s history pageOpen the page

Homes by age43% built before 1919 · Older homes Listed buildings140 listed buildings Vs. the neighboursAhead of all 7 graded neighbours Questions“How many listed buildings are there in Dover?”

Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

More people aged 16 to 64 in Dover claim unemployment benefits than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns: 5.2%

The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 19% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.

Dover sits above both Kent’s towns (2.7%) and England’s towns (2.3%) on this measure. Household income averages £48K a year before tax.

25%walk, cycle or ride

How commuters got to work · March 2021

Driving71%

On foot16%

Bus5%

Train3%

Bicycle2%

49%

of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%

19%

worked mainly from home in March 2021

£48K

mean household income, before tax

5.2%

of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)

Walkability: more walkable than 90% of UK towns

Full pageDover’s work & commute pageOpen the page

Jobs based here13,000 jobs based here · Transport and storage is the biggest, 18%Commute map25% walk, cycle or ride Household income£48K a year · Mean household income Getting to work49% go under 5 km · Short trips to work

ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL

HousingCost of living grade B

More households rent privately in Dover than in Kent’s towns or across England’s towns: 28%

That puts Dover above both Kent’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (21%). 53% of households own their home.

£219Kmedian sale

Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

Dover£219K

Typical UK town£277K

By type	Median	Sales
Detached	£405,000	131
Semi-detached	£275,000	269
Terraced	£200,000	649
Flat or maisonette	£160,000	183

53%

of households own their home · England 61%

28%

rent privately · England 21%

£1,021

average private rent a month, Dover council area

£2,486

council tax, Band D, 2026–27

Full pageDover’s housing & cost pageOpen the page

House pricesMedian sale £218,950 Renting£1,021 a month · Average private rent Council tax£2,486 Band D · Council tax, 2026–27 Owners and renters53% own their home

HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Dover

15pages on Dover

The big questions

SafetyD⁻65.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 Cost of livingBMedian home £219K · rent £1,021 a month Housing392 sold in 12 months · busiest street Heathfield Avenue SchoolsB⁻17 state schools HealthDLife expectancy 76.1 (men), 81 (women)Work & commuteC⁻59% of working residents work in the town Flood & hazardsC1.5% of homes at high or medium flood risk

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁺86% live within 400 m of a park AttractionsClimateJuly highs of 21°C (70°F), 901 mm of rain a year Weather

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 40 · 36,349 people HistoryA140 listed buildings, 3 Grade I Town Hall & politicsCouncil area: Dover Famous people118 born here, among them Joss Stone

Landmarks

140 listed buildings in Dover, 3 of them Grade I.

All landmarks →

Dover CastleScheduled monument

Church of St Mary Sub-CastroGrade I listed

The Roman PharosGrade I listed

Fairbairn-type crane, Wellington DockScheduled monument

Photo credits

Dover Castle: Photo: Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Church of St Mary Sub-Castro: Photo: Michael Coppins · CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Roman Pharos: Photo: Chris McKenna ( Thryduulf) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fairbairn-type crane, Wellington Dock: Photo: Gerd Fahrenhorst · CC BY 4.0

Famous people from Dover

118 notable people were born in Dover.

See all 118 →

Joss StoneEnglish singer, songwriter, and actress (born 1987)

M. R. James20th century British author, medievalist scholar and provos…

Albert Frederick MummeryEnglish mountaineer and author (1855–1895)

Donald Lynden-BellEnglish astrophysicist (1935–2018)

Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount ExmouthRoyal Navy admiral (1757-1833)

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of HardwickeEnglish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor…

Photo credits

Joss Stone: Ice Boy Tell, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Albert Frederick Mummery: Martin Jacolette phot., Public domain · Donald Lynden-Bell: Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge – Amanda Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth: James Northcote, Public domain · Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke: William Hoare, Public domain

Dover’s neighbours

The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →

All towns in Kent →

GustonWhitfieldSt Margaret's at CliffeCapel-le-FerneSibertswoldEythorneKingsdownDover

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	Miles	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Dover	36,349	—	C⁻	B	D⁻	D
Guston	1,684	1.3	—	C⁺	A⁺	C⁻
Whitfield	6,509	1.8	C	C	C⁻	C⁺
St Margaret's at Cliffe	2,399	4	—	D	B	A⁻
Capel-le-Ferne	1,962	4.1	—	C⁻	A⁻	B
Sibertswold	1,619	4.7	—	C⁻	B	C⁺
Eythorne	1,487	4.7	—	C	B	C⁺
Kingsdown	1,687	5.7	—	C⁻	B⁺	A⁻

Guston, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Capel-le-Ferne, Sibertswold, Eythorne and Kingsdown have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.

Questions about Dover

Is Dover safe?

Police recorded 4,434 crimes inside Dover’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, 46% of them violence and sexual offences, a police category that includes harassment and stalking.

How many listed buildings are there in Dover?

That is 1.6 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I buildings include Church of St Mary Sub-Castro. It also has 14 scheduled monuments.

Who lives in Dover?

At the 2021 Census, 11% of Dover’s 36,349 residents were 15 to 24 and 18% were 65 or over, against 12% and 18% across England’s towns.

Does Dover flood?

Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.

About Dover

Large town in Kent, England

Dover is a built-up area of 36,349 people, in the Dover council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.

Built from ONS geography and Census 2021

Population: 36,349 (Census 2021)
Council: Dover
County: Kent
Region: South East
Area: 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km²)
ONS code: E63005781

Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.