Dover Dover Dover - What would you do and why? (Bear: sales, crime rate)

[franklinb]

Hi folks -

I live in Middletown continue to see an increase in costs (i.e taxes, etc) and significant congestion

The one thing that I do like is that crime (violent crime) is not ramped throughout the area.

Sure we have car break ins, people on drugs, and other crimes alike but

homicides, rapes, and stuff like that not high in numbers.... although we have had incidents

My question is how is the Dover area -- sometimes I read that there are gangs and crime

everywhere and then other places I read where its specific to a few streets and that the overall

area is very good with many more amenities than Middletown.

Yes I can ask realtors and get the sales pitch or get to this website or that website...

but I like this forum because I get opinion from folks with "boots on the ground"

Crime is my number one concern, I live and work in Delaware and both Middletown and Dover

would not hurt my commute to work -- whatsoever.

Uncompensated opinion --

Your feedback is greatly appreciated -

[rdlr]

There's "Dover" and then there's "Dover", a 19901 address and a 19904 address. As you can probably guess, those zip codes cover a pretty large territory. Much new construction is going on the West side of Dover, within the City limits. I live in the 19934 Zip Code area (Camden and Wyoming). If I was moving from where you are, south, I would prefer the 19934 zip code area. The 19934 zip code encompasses both the Town of Camden and the Town of Wyoming, although they have 2 different governments and 2 different police forces. There are lots of restaurants along Route 13, and of course Bally's Casino. If you haven't already, take a ride south (about 30 minutes from Middletown) and look around. I'm a native of this area, and I've seen many changes (like everywhere else). About "crime".....It's everywhere. The City of Dover has had some bad stuff going on, but outside the City limits....not as much. Good Luck!

[Ruthed]

I live in the 57106 Zip code area (south Dakota and sioux Fall we do have One government and we have a lot of restaurant Ilove for you to come and have some fun here in the states

[rothbear]

We live in North Dover (19904) and it feels very rural out here. Lots of open space, Amish farms and stands and yet very close to 13 and all it's amenities. We are in a small 55+ community but there are many other residences around and being built. You might also look into Smyrna as it isn't far from Dover. Lots of building going on there.

I like the more rural feel, yet the nearness of shopping, restaurants. etc. Good luck!

[nuts2uiam]

Bear one thing in mind. Unless you live in a bubble on an island there will always be crime. You live on a state that borders a high property tax state and that will not change. I am a transplant here, too, from LI and I am in my 11th year and I can see the difference in the congestion, building and crime. You sell now and you have to pay transfer taxes both ways. That is 4% of the sales price for both locations. (2% each way) If the crime rate and lack of amenities or rather desire for additional ones means a better quality of life for you and you are willing to to pay - then keep researching til you are comfortable enough to make the decision, but that transfer tax looms large.

[franklinb]

Originally Posted by rothbear

We live in North Dover (19904) and it feels very rural out here. Lots of open space, Amish farms and stands and yet very close to 13 and all it's amenities. We are in a small 55+ community but there are many other residences around and being built. You might also look into Smyrna as it isn't far from Dover. Lots of building going on there.

I like the more rural feel, yet the nearness of shopping, restaurants. etc. Good luck!

Rothbear - what about crime - yes there is crime everywhere but what kind of crime matters!


We in Middletown have cars that broken into, drug stops, burglaries, and stuff like that

We had a shooting not too long ago --

But we don't have homicides, rapes, home invasions, and stuff that is constant elsewhere -

When it happens here - its the exception - not just another day -


I hear there is gang activity in Dover -- Is that true?

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by franklinb

Rothbear - what about crime - yes there is crime everywhere but what kind of crime matters!
I hear there is gang activity in Dover -- Is that true? But we don't have homicides, rapes, home invasions, and stuff that is constant elsewhere -
When it happens here - its the exception - not just another day -

I can answer that, even tho I'm not Rothbear. Yes, the City of Dover has gangs. So does Middletown, and other cities/towns these days. The Dover address doesn't only encompass the "city". Rural areas also have a Dover address.
https://www.wmdt.com/2021/01/dovers-...-street-gangs/

About crime in Middletown, are these the exceptions of which you speak?
https://police.middletown.delaware.g.../category/177/

[franklinb]

RDLR -- sounds to me like you took my comment personally --

I was not trying to disparage the City of Dover and its surrounding areas -


Dover is 30 minutes from my house and I go down there quiet frequently


I don't see gangs in Middletown, we have 2 big sore spots in the area


E. Lake St and Middletown Village and of course what passes through town


that can never be stopped --


But there were headlines not so long ago about major gangs down there


and I don't know if the media was making more of an isolated incident

or if that was the progression of the city


I do know that I went to a restaurant a few months ago and there were guys


smoking pot right in the parking lot as people were walking by --


nothing against pot -- but I found the lack of disrespect for everyone else

distasteful -


Hope that clarifies the story behind the question


This forum is to have those open conversations... right?

[rdlr]

Thanks for the clarification. The gang comments I posted were from the attached Middletown police records. Not always do the reports mention "gang". However, it's a mute point, now that I've learned that you've been to Dover "quite frequently". Since you know your way around, you can decide if Dover appeals to you. I wrongly assumed you hadn't been to Dover before. You mentioned that you don't see gangs in Middletown. That's good! I'm sure if you look hard enough in Dover, you might suspect some gang activity, like most places these days. Good Luck.

[franklinb]

Originally Posted by rdlr

Thanks for the clarification. The gang comments I posted were from the attached Middletown police records. Not always do the reports mention "gang". However, it's a mute point, now that I've learned that you've been to Dover "quite frequently". Since you know your way around, you can decide if Dover appeals to you. I wrongly assumed you hadn't been to Dover before. You mentioned that you don't see gangs in Middletown. That's good! I'm sure if you look hard enough in Dover, you might suspect some gang activity, like most places these days. Good Luck.

No worries... it's the great thing about this forum is we can discuss topics they way people used to talk -

I see places outside city limits that have that rural feel yet close to 13

But they always say its different when you live somewhere versus visiting

Middletown is not perfect but having lived here for so long -- when you here the heavier

crime stuff happen -- I know where it probably happened --

E. Lake area and Middletown Village for the most part not that stuff doesn't happen everywhere in town

but those are our pain points --

So I wonder is the negative stuff in the papers about Dover similar where its concentrated to

specific blocks but the media makes it instead the entire area as a problem -