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Area data

Dorchester, MA — ZIP 02121

Population: 29,040 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 02121 (Dorchester, MA) is $659,643 — down 1.4% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $500,000 after a median 52 days on market. Typical rent runs $3,223/month. 8 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with lightning, coastalflooding, coldwave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.5% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$659,643

Median home value

-1.4%

1-year change

52

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$659,643
1-year appreciation
-1.4%
3-year appreciation
+4.6%
5-year appreciation
+10.2%
10-year appreciation
+65.4%
All-time peak (2025-03)
$682,257
House Price Index (state)
467.4 (+2.1% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$500,000
Median list price
$649,000
Median price per sqft
$340
Median days on market
52 days
Homes sold (recent period)
3
For-sale inventory
15
Sale-to-list ratio
100.6%
Active listings
2
1-year forecast
+1.1%
New listings (monthly)
5

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$3,223/mo
1-year rent change
+3.5%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,278/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,597/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,044/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,658/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,067/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
30.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$25.10/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
8
Elementary schools
4
Middle schools
1
High schools
3
Schools include
Boston Latin Academy, Carter School, Burke High School, UP Academy Holland, Greenwood Sarah K-8 School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
lightning, coastalFlooding, coldWave, heatWave, hurricane
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively High · coldWave: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 14% of US counties
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Lower Neponset River (4.1 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
52.0°F
Average high
62.0°F
Average low
42.0°F
Annual precipitation
50.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
6b (extreme annual low -5 to 0°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
44
Days with Good air quality
231
Days with Moderate air quality
134
Highest AQI recorded (year)
99

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
14.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
176
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
244,120
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
216,034

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
16
Nearest national park
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (3 mi)
National parks include
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site, Boston African American National Historic Site
Airports within 30 mi
19
Nearest airport
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (6 mi)
Nearest major airport
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (6 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
36
Hospitals include
MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL, CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE, CARNEY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.6 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.8 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-9,410 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,944
Housing built before 1970
69.5%
Housing built 2000 or later
11.3%
Median annual property tax
$3,294
Mean commute to work
34 min
Households with broadband internet
70.4%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
633,927
Average weekly wage
$2,443
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Professional Services, Finance & Insurance
Annual residential building permits (county)
74

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 02121State medianUS median
Median home value$659,643$625,940$289,727
Median sale price$500,000$585,000$325,000
Median days on market52 days27 days51 days
Typical rent$3,223/mo$2,768/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$3,294$5,436$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 02121?
$659,643.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 02121?
$500,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 02121?
Median days on market: 52 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 02121?
Typical rent: $3,223/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 02121?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, coastalFlooding, coldWave, heatWave, hurricane.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 02121?
Risk to homes is higher than 14% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 02121?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 02121?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Lower Neponset River, 4.1 mi.
How many schools serve ZIP 02121?
8 schools (4 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 02121 walkable?
Walkability index: 14.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 02121?
Good. Median AQI: 44. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 02121?
Regional Price Parity: 110.5 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents