In short
Dover charges a local tax on a home sale: Dover realty transfer tax. On the median owner-occupied home ($258,900), local taxes come to $3,884; with the Delaware state tax of $6,473, the total is $10,356, or 4% of the price.
Median value: $258,900 median value of owner-occupied homes, Dover city, Delaware (Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25077). It is an owner estimate, not a sale price.
What you pay at different prices
| Price | Dover realty transfer tax | Delaware state tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $258,900 median home | $3,884 | $6,473 | $10,356 |
| $300,000 | $4,500 | $7,500 | $12,000 |
| $500,000 | $7,500 | $12,500 | $20,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $30,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
Before exemptions and credits (first-time buyers, transfers between relatives…), which are listed below when the source gives them. The tax due on your deed is the one the recorder computes.
The rates, tax by tax
Dover realty transfer tax
1.5% city rate; state 2.5%. Not collected by Kent County (paid to the city).
Exemptions: Dover row shows a first-time home buyer exemption note ('Exempt1 - 1/2'), details in the Dover code.
In force: Rate sheet KCROD-10.0 dated 5/23/2025. Source: Kent County Recorder of Deeds - Realty Transfer Tax Rates (KCROD-10.0, 5/23/2025).
Questions
How much local transfer tax do you pay on a median home in Dover?
$3,884 on $258,900, the median value of owner-occupied homes (Census ACS). Payotte computes it from the rates published by the official sources cited on the page.
Is the local tax on top of the Delaware tax?
Yes. The local taxes listed here are added to the Delaware state transfer tax.
General information drawn from the official sources cited and dated on this page. It is not legal, tax or financial advice: for your own situation, ask a licensed professional.