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Moving to Dorchester Center, MA?

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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Dorchester Center, MA

Thinking of moving to Dorchester Center, MA? This vibrant Boston neighborhood is home to about 31,100 residents and offers urban living with a strong sense of community. The median home price is $540,000, and average rent for a 2-bedroom is $2,250. Commute times average 34.5 minutes, with excellent access to public transportation. While crime rates are higher than the state average, you’ll find great healthcare options, diverse schools, and a lively, multicultural atmosphere. Explore more below to see if Dorchester Center fits your lifestyle and budget!

Demographics - Dorchester Center, MA

Demographics - Dorchester Center, MA

Dorchester Center is a diverse and densely populated Boston neighborhood, home to approximately 31,100 residents with a median age of 35.1. The community features a vibrant mix of backgrounds, with nearly 44% identifying as Black and about 29% speaking a language other than English at home. This multicultural atmosphere fosters a dynamic and inclusive environment for newcomers.

demograph population
Population:
31,100
demograph density
Density:
13,500 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
35.1
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
92 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
29.0%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
25.7%
demograph blacks
Black:
44.2%
demograph asian
Asian:
8.1%
demograph others
Others:
22.0%
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Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Dorchester Center, MA?

Living in Dorchester Center comes with a higher-than-average cost of living, reflected in a median home value of $540,000 and typical rent for a two-bedroom around $2,250. The overall cost of living index is 144.5, indicating that expenses like housing, groceries, and transportation are notably above the national average. Despite these costs, residents enjoy access to city amenities and services.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$540,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$2,250
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$120
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$2,040
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$2,650
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$950
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
5.0%
|
High:
9.0%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
144.5
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
127.2
cost of living housing
Housing:
172.3
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
113.6
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
138.1
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
120.9
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
117.5

Crime

Crime

Is Dorchester Center, MA a safe place to live?

Dorchester Center experiences crime rates higher than the state average, with a chance of property crime at 1 in 47 and violent crime at 1 in 163. While these figures may be concerning, many residents find that the area’s strong community ties and local initiatives contribute to neighborhood safety. It's important for newcomers to remain aware and take standard precautions.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
612
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
2,110
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
2,722
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 163
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 47
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Dorchester Center, MA year-round?

Residents in Dorchester Center enjoy four distinct seasons, with cold winters averaging lows around 22°F and warm summers reaching up to 83°F. The area receives about 43.7 inches of annual rainfall and sees sunshine on 57% of days, making for a balanced climate. Seasonal changes offer opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
22°F
weather max
Max:
38°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
41°F
weather max
Max:
65°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
64°F
weather max
Max:
83°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
46°F
weather max
Max:
68°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
43.7 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
57%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Dorchester Center's community features a median household income of $69,400 and a poverty rate of 17.3%, reflecting a mix of economic backgrounds. Many residents rely on public transportation, with over 32% using it for their daily commute, and average travel times of about 34.5 minutes. The neighborhood is known for its diversity and strong local engagement.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$41,800
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$69,400
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$74,800
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$27,300
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$39,400
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$35,900
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
17.3%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
29.0%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$2,250
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
5.8%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
32.2%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
34.5 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
84.5%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
28.4%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Dorchester Center, MA?

Dorchester Center offers a range of educational opportunities, including public schools like Joseph Lee K-8 and TechBoston Academy, both known for their supportive learning environments and favorable student-teacher ratios. The neighborhood also features private school options and is conveniently located near major colleges such as UMass Boston and Northeastern University, providing access to higher education within a few miles.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Joseph Lee K-8 School
education publicStreet
Street:
155 Talbot Ave
education publicPhone
Phone:
617-635-8687
education publicStudents
Students:
835
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
13.9


education publicName
Name:
TechBoston Academy
education publicStreet
Street:
9 Peacevale Rd
education publicPhone
Phone:
617-635-1615
education publicStudents
Students:
1,140
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
12.7


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
St. John Paul II Catholic Academy
education privateStreet
Street:
239 Neponset Ave
education privatePhone
Phone:
617-265-0019
education privateStudents
Students:
410


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
UMass Boston
education collegeCity
City:
Boston
education collegeState
State:
MA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
3 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
16,200


education collegeName
Name:
Northeastern University
education collegeCity
City:
Boston
education collegeState
State:
MA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
5 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
22,900


Healthcare

Healthcare

Healthcare access is a highlight in Dorchester Center, with major hospitals like Carney Hospital and Boston Medical Center nearby and a high health insurance coverage rate of 96.8%. Residents benefit from a robust physician presence, averaging 3.2 doctors per 1,000 people. Quality medical care and emergency services are readily available for families and individuals alike.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Carney Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
2100 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(617) 296-4000
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Boston Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
1 Boston Medical Center Pl, Boston, MA 02118
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(617) 638-8000
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
3.2
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
96.8%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
79.2
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Dorchester Center, MA?

Dorchester Center's housing market is competitive, with a median home price of $540,000 and average rent for a two-bedroom at $2,250. Home values have appreciated by 7.4% over the past year, signaling a strong local real estate market. With a homeownership rate of 37.4% and moderate rental vacancy, housing demand remains steady.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$540,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$2,250
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
37.4%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
5.8%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
7.4%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.2%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.3%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Dorchester Center residents are served by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) located in nearby Quincy. The RMV provides essential services such as licensing, vehicle registration, and renewals through both in-person visits and online resources. For assistance, residents can call 1-857-368-8000 or visit the RMV website.

dmv state
State:
Massachusetts
dmv department
Department:
Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
dmv address
Address:
500 Victory Rd, Quincy, MA 02171
dmv phone
Phone:
1-857-368-8000
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Dorchester Center, MA

Planning a relocation in or near Dorchester Center? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Dorchester Center.

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FAQs About Moving to Dorchester Center, MA

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Dorchester Center. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Dorchester Center climate and weather.

Moving within Dorchester Center usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Dorchester Center. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Dorchester Center offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Dorchester Center at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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