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MA area data

Dorchester, MA

Aggregated across 4 ZIP codes in Dorchester.

Population: 142,397 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Dorchester, MA is $675,467 — down 0.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $801,062 after a median 36 days on market. Typical rent runs $3,189/month. 32 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

$675,467

Median home value

-0.5%

1-year change

36

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$675,467
1-year appreciation
-0.5%
3-year appreciation
+4.8%
5-year appreciation
+9.4%
10-year appreciation
+61.8%
All-time peak (2025-03)
$690,495
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
$801,062
Median list price
$780,125
Median price per sqft
$459
1-year sale-price change
+39.0%
Median days on market
36 days
Homes sold (recent period)
4
For-sale inventory
197
Sale-to-list ratio
101.0%
Active listings
4
1-year forecast
+0.8%
Days to pending
30 days
New listings (monthly)
66

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

Rents

Typical rent
$3,189/mo
1-year rent change
+2.0%
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
32
Elementary schools
19
Middle schools
2
High schools
8
Charter schools
6
School districts serving the area
Boston, Neighborhood House Charter (District), Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public (District)
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
FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
includes A06
Flood risk level
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 (3.4 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
15.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
228
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
244,288
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
217,453

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
64
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
78
Nearest airport
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (4 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
27
Hospitals include
MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL, CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE, CARNEY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.7 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 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
1,940
Housing built before 1970
70.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
13.9%
Median annual property tax
$3,446
Mean commute to work
30 min
Households with broadband internet
76.9%

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

DorchesterState medianUS median
Median home value$675,467$625,940$289,727
Median sale price$801,062$585,000$325,000
Median days on market36 days27 days51 days
Typical rent$3,189/mo$2,768/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$3,446$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 Dorchester, MA?
$675,467.
What is the median sale price in Dorchester, MA?
$801,062.
How long do homes take to sell in Dorchester, MA?
Median days on market: 36 days.
What is typical rent in Dorchester, MA?
Typical rent: $3,189/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Dorchester, MA?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, coastalFlooding, coldWave, heatWave, hurricane.
Is Dorchester, MA in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone A06; zones vary by location within the city.
What is the wildfire risk in Dorchester, MA?
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 Dorchester, MA?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Dorchester, MA?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Lower Neponset River, 3.4 mi.
How many schools serve Dorchester, MA?
32 schools (19 elementary, 2 middle, 8 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Dorchester, MA walkable?
Walkability index: 15.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Dorchester, MA?
Good. Median AQI: 44. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Dorchester, MA?
Regional Price Parity: 110.5 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Dorchester

Selling a home in Dorchester, MA?

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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