Loading listings
Dover is Delaware's state capital and a mid-sized city along US-13 near the center of the Delmarva Peninsula. The city anchors Kent County and serves as the administrative hub for central Delaware, with Legislative Hall and a cluster of state agencies drawing a steady government workforce. Dover is also home to Dover Air Force Base on the city's eastern edge, a regional hospital, and a retail corridor along Dupont Highway. The pace of life is quieter than Wilmington, and flat terrain makes getting around by car simple. For students at Delaware State University, Dover offers affordable housing, accessible dining along US-13, and easy reach of natural areas including the Delaware Bay and Bombay Hook wildlife refuge to the east.
The strip of Dupont Highway (US-13) running south from Delaware State University's main entrance is the most practical area for students who want to minimize their commute. Apartment complexes, rental duplexes, and converted houses cluster within a half-mile of campus, and the road is lined with convenience options including grocery stores, fast food, and a pharmacy. Rent runs higher here than further from campus, but the time savings and walkability are significant for students without cars.
The residential streets branching west and south off US-13 in the Woodcrest area offer quieter, lower-density rental options compared to the highway corridor. Single-family rentals and smaller apartment buildings sit on tree-lined streets with minimal through traffic. This area suits students who prefer a calmer environment and are comfortable with a short drive or bike ride to campus, and rents are among the most affordable in the Dover market.
Downtown Dover, centered on Loockerman Street and the Legislative Mall, is about two miles north of campus and accessible by DART bus or a short drive. The neighborhood has older brick row houses, apartment conversions, and proximity to state government offices, which is relevant for students pursuing internships or public administration programs. Restaurants, a farmers market, and the Schwartz Center for the Arts give the area genuine character, and students who value a walkable mixed-use environment and do not mind the short commute to DSU find downtown a reasonable choice.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Dover.
DART First State operates bus service throughout Dover and connects the city to Wilmington, Newark, and other Delaware destinations via the Dover Transit Center on Water Street. Route 301 provides the most useful connection for DSU students, linking campus to downtown Dover and the transit hub. Buses run on weekday-heavy schedules, and frequency drops significantly on evenings and weekends, so students relying entirely on transit should plan their schedules carefully. The Dover Transit Center also serves intercity routes for travel beyond Delaware.
The area immediately surrounding Delaware State University is walkable for errands along Dupont Highway, with grocery stores, fast food, and pharmacies within a mile of campus. Dedicated bike infrastructure is limited in Dover, but traffic volumes on residential streets south of campus are manageable for confident cyclists. The Silver Lake area has a pleasant path along the waterfront for recreational rides, and the flat terrain makes biking a practical option for most of the year. Students who commute to downtown Dover regularly will find a bike faster than waiting for a bus.
Dover is a car-friendly city with abundant surface parking, and most off-campus apartments include at least one parking space in the rent or at low additional cost. Street parking in residential neighborhoods near campus is generally unrestricted and available. The downtown corridor near Loockerman Street has metered parking for daytime visitors, but nothing that poses a burden for occasional trips. Students who own a car will find Dover far easier to navigate than a major metro, and a car is genuinely useful for reaching shopping centers like the Dover Mall on US-13.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Apartments in Dover are relatively affordable by mid-Atlantic standards. A one-bedroom typically rents for $850 to $1,200 per month, and a two-bedroom runs roughly $1,100 to $1,600 depending on location and condition. Areas closest to Delaware State University along US-13 tend to be priced at the higher end of the local market.
Browse student housing near each Dover-area university.