Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Dover, DE metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Dover, DE metro area's all-transactions index changed +3.7% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +4.0% for Delaware and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 174th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +3.7%
- 5-year change
- +39.3%
- Since Q1 1995
- +216%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 174th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Dover, DE vs Delaware and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Dover, DE: 315.6
- Delaware: 344.5
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | DE | U.S. | Gap vs DE | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.7% | +4.0% | +3.0% | −0.3 pts | +0.7 pts |
| 3 years | +12.9% | +16.6% | +12.9% | −3.7 pts | +0.1 pts |
| 5 years | +39.3% | +43.8% | +41.3% | −4.6 pts | −2.0 pts |
| 10 years | +74.7% | +81.6% | +93.3% | −6.9 pts | −18.6 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +216% | +245% | +292% | −28.9 pts | −76.0 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Dover, DE area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 199 · Dover, DE area | DE | +3.7% | +43.6% | +281% | 45% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Dover, DE area
Dover, DE area's index peaked in Q1 2007, fell 23.1% to its low in Q2 2012, and regained its peak in Q1 2021, about 14 years after the top. Today it sits +50.2% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -23.1% | Q1 2021 (14 yrs) | +50.2% |
| DE | Q2 2007 | Q2 2012 | -20.4% | Q4 2020 (13.5 yrs) | +56.3% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Dover, DE area's index has changed +42.5% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | DE after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -0.2% | +0.1% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +2.9% | +6.2% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +12.3% | +15.9% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +25.6% | +30.6% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +42.5% | +55.6% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Dover, DE area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +203% | $907,535 |
| Q2 2000 | +179% | $835,678 |
| Q2 2005 | +76.6% | $529,882 |
| Q2 2010 | +79.8% | $539,453 |
| Q2 2015 | +86.1% | $558,186 |
| Q2 2020 | +56.3% | $468,799 |
| Q2 2021 | +39.2% | $417,747 |
| Q2 2023 | +12.9% | $338,848 |
| Q2 2025 | +3.7% | $311,069 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Dover, DE area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Dover, DE metro area shows changes of +3.7% over one year, +39.3% over five years, and +74.7% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +216% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Dover, DE area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +0.7 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is −2.0 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.