Dover, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 136, Dover's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Dover is a small community located in Missouri, within Lafayette County. The total population is 136. It ranks as the 814th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dover is 33.5 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 40.4% of the population under 18, Dover has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 11.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dover is $85,417. This is 21% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 6% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Dover. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 7.5%. This is 88% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $187,500. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Dover is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dover has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.1%.

Education

37.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dover, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.