Population 32,754 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dorchester County
Household size in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Dorchester County has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.6 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Dorchester County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.6, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.9% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Dorchester County (12.0%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Dorchester County
Renters in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.9% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.2% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.4% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Dorchester County is about as common as it is nationally: 34.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 46.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.2% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.2% of the housing in Dorchester County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Dorchester County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Dorchester County has older homes than the great majority of Maryland counties.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $812 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $909 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $961 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,144 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$332 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Dorchester County costs $1,144 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $332 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Dorchester County
Bachelor's degrees in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Dorchester County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.8%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Maryland county has a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.5% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.4% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.3% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.5% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Dorchester County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Maryland county has a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Dorchester County
| Period | Dorchester County | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Dorchester County: 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.7 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Dorchester County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County | 2.42 | 43.9 | 12.0% | 34.4% | 16.2% | 1974 | $1,144 | 18.8% | 85.5% | 6.5% |
| Calvert County | 2.85 | 41.0 | 8.0% | 12.8% | 7.9% | 1989 | $1,810 | 37.4% | 95.0% | 2.7% |
| Sussex County | 2.44 | 50.0 | 10.0% | 18.4% | 18.9% | 1997 | $1,429 | 31.4% | 89.4% | 5.1% |
| Charles County | 2.84 | 39.3 | 11.6% | 17.9% | 5.4% | 1992 | $1,956 | 33.7% | 94.6% | 4.8% |
| Prince William County | 3.21 | 37.1 | 12.2% | 25.7% | 4.5% | 1993 | $2,274 | 44.9% | 90.0% | 4.6% |
| Stafford County | 3.10 | 37.4 | 9.6% | 19.5% | 5.2% | 1997 | $2,155 | 44.1% | 92.7% | 3.9% |
| Fauquier County | 2.84 | 42.4 | 8.5% | 21.2% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,817 | 40.7% | 92.3% | 2.7% |
| Culpeper County | 2.83 | 39.7 | 12.1% | 25.0% | 5.4% | 1992 | $1,461 | 27.4% | 87.1% | 2.6% |
| Rappahannock County | 2.63 | 50.4 | 9.6% | 26.6% | 22.6% | 1981 | $1,402 | 32.5% | 91.1% | 9.7% |
| Page County | 2.45 | 46.2 | 9.9% | 28.2% | 16.8% | 1973 | $882 | 14.3% | 82.5% | 5.6% |
| Rockingham County | 2.60 | 40.5 | 10.3% | 24.7% | 9.6% | 1985 | $1,246 | 29.8% | 88.0% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Grady County, GA · Wabash County, IN · Wakulla County, FL · Ware County, GA · Graves County, KY · Gratiot County, MI · Grant County, NM · Warren County, MO · Grainger County, TN · Graham County, AZ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Dorchester County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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