Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
15%
Dorchester
Dorchester, MA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,303
Population
124,098
Renter Mix
68% Rent
A premier destination just south of downtown Boston
Bustling
•
Historic
•
Coastal
•
University
•
Public Transit
•
As Boston’s largest neighborhood, Dorchester offers a diverse selection of scenery, entertainment, restaurants, and opportunities just five miles south of Downtown Boston. With unbeatable access to Boston’s multitude of attractions and amenities, Dorchester provides a premier location for commuters and big-city lovers.
Students renting in Dorchester have come to the right place. Apartments in this neighborhood have convenient access to Boston’s branch of the University of Massachusetts and related historic attractions like the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Families looking for a respite from the bustle of big city living can stroll the nature trails along the Neponset River Reservation or attend family-friendly community events at neighboring Dorchester Park.
Adventure with family and friends to the historic Franklin Park Zoo, try one of the many delicious local restaurants, explore boutique shops, and enjoy various entertainment venues around this coastal town. Luckily for locals, this neighborhood is one of the less expensive areas in Boston. How much does it cost to live in Dorchester? Average rent comes in at $3,017, which is about 8% less expensive than average city rent. Luxury apartments are abundant in Dorchester, as are standard apartment and condo rentals- there’s something for every renter in this lively Boston neighborhood!
Explore the City
Dorchester Heights monument
View of Boston’s South End
Southern Boston’s skyline
Demographics
Median Household Income
$61,489
Average: $89,734
Education
32,562
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
65,941
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Dorchester has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
68%
Non-Renters
32%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
21%
Other Education
79%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Dorchester, MA is $2,305 for a studio, $2,415 for one bedroom, $2,986 for two bedrooms, and $4,060 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Dorchester has increased by 1.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,415/month
688 Sq Ft
House
$5,417/month
2,138 Sq Ft
Condo
$3,714/month
3,224 Sq Ft
Townhome
$4,485/month
2,369 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Dorchester, MA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Squantum Point Park
- Dorchester Shores Reservation
- Lower Neponset River Trail
- Franklin Park Zoo
- Castle Island
Commuter Rail
Airports
- General Edward Lawrence Logan International
Top Apartments in Dorchester
Houses for Rent in Dorchester
Property Management Companies in Dorchester, MA
John M Corcoran & Co
-
55
Communities
-
10,972
Units
-
40
Cities
5 Communities in Dorchester
Winn Companies
-
157
Communities
-
27,182
Units
-
112
Cities
4 Communities in Dorchester
The Community Builders, Inc.
-
15
Communities
-
1,435
Units
-
12
Cities
3 Communities in Dorchester
Greystar
-
3,498
Communities
-
962,153
Units
-
891
Cities
2 Communities in Dorchester
Maloney Properties, Inc
-
10
Communities
-
981
Units
-
10
Cities
2 Communities in Dorchester
Willow Bridge
-
719
Communities
-
198,456
Units
-
342
Cities
1 Community in Dorchester
Living in Dorchester
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.