Dorchester, Boston, MA—02125
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Dorchester, Boston, MA
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Dorchester, Boston, MA is $648,000, with a year-over-year change of -1.9%. This indicates that home prices in Dorchester, Boston, MA are decreasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 0.9%, suggesting a relatively flat housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $648,000 | -1.9% |
| Single Family | $745,000 | -3.0% |
| Condos | $605,000 | -0.5% |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | $463,000 | 1.1% |
2 Bed | $612,000 | -0.8% |
3 Bed | $638,000 | -0.9% |
4 Bed | $803,000 | -1.8% |
| 5 Bed | $931,000 | -1.0% |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Dorchester, Boston, MA
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Dorchester, Boston, MA is $3,270, with a year-over-year rent change of -3.0%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Dorchester, Boston, MA is studios: $2,650, 1-bedrooms: $2,750, 2-bedrooms: $3,330, 3-bedrooms: $3,320, 4-bedrooms: $3,500. The most common rental property sizes in Dorchester, Boston, MA are 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom, accounting for 34.6% and 31.0% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,250 | $3,270 |
| Studio Rent | $2,660 | $2,650 |
| 1 Bed Rent | $2,850 | $2,750 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $3,240 | $3,330 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $3,250 | $3,320 |
| 4 Bed Rent | $3,700 | $3,500 |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Dorchester, Boston, MA
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Dorchester, Boston, MA is 39. This is a decrease of -2.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market shorter than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 29.0%, representing a large inventory and a lot of supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $626,000 | -11.0% |
Listing Count | 55 | 36.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 0.2% | 36.0% |
Days on Market | 39 | -2.0% |
Demographics — Dorchester, Boston, MA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Dorchester, Boston, MA has a population of 33,100, which has decreased by -3.8% over the past 5 years. Dorchester, Boston, MA is a moderately popular place for families, as children make up 17.9% of the population. The area has a moderately educated workforce, with 41.8% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are some residents working remotely, with 14.4% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 33,100 | -3.8% |
% Under 18 | 17.9% | -5.8% |
% Seniors | 12.0% | 23.7% |
% WFH | 14.4% | 747.1% |
% w/ College Degree | 41.8% | 14.2% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Dorchester, Boston, MA is a predominantly white area, with 30.4% of the population identifying as white. The white population has grown by 1.7% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Dorchester, Boston, MA is black, making up 27.4% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 30.8% of the population in Dorchester, Boston, MA, and this percentage has decreased by 19.4% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting fewer immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 30.4% | 1.7% |
% Black | 27.4% | -21.0% |
% Hispanic | 20.6% | -4.2% |
% Asian | 11.2% | 0.0% |
% Foreign Born | 30.8% | -19.4% |
Mortgage and Risk — Dorchester, Boston, MA
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 238 mortgage originations in Dorchester, Boston, MA, of which 95.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 62.0%, with 15.0% above 90% LTV (elevated). This implies medium mortgage risk in Dorchester, Boston, MA. Investor activity is low, as 5.0% of loans were by investors. 6.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting few homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 238 |
% Conventional Loans | 95.0% |
% Government Loans | 5.0% |
% Investor Loans | 5.0% |
% Second Loans | 0.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 6.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Dorchester, Boston, MA
As of 2024, the percent of homes in Dorchester, Boston, MA under the Section 8 program is 26.3%. This is considered high, suggesting that the neighborhood is heavily composed of Section 8 homes. Section 8 opportunity is good when HUD pays more than market rent. In Dorchester, Boston, MA, none of the tracked home sizes currently have HUD payment amounts above market rent, suggesting limited Section 8 opportunity.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 2,570 |
Total Units Section 8 | 2,331 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 26.3% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 96.0% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | -$710 | $2,850 | $2,140 |
| 2 Bedroom | -$690 | $3,240 | $2,550 |
| 3 Bedroom | -$170 | $3,250 | $3,080 |
| 4 Bedroom | -$310 | $3,700 | $3,390 |
Affordability — Dorchester, Boston, MA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 8.7 |
| Median Home Price | $648,000 |
| Median Household Income | $71,800 |