Dorchester is a small town of 547 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $57,708
and a 1.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dorchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dorchester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dorchester city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.6
Dorchester's overall cost of living index is 87.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dorchester costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dorchester, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$128,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$617
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,708
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Dorchester's violent crime rate is 105.5 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
105.5 /100k
Property Crime
1328.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dorchester is served primarily by DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dorchester, NE
National Avg
School District
DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dorchester sees average highs of 33.1°F in January
and 84.4°F in July,
with 28.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.9 inches of snow per year.
Dorchester's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dorchester roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $128,400 and median rent is $617/month.
Dorchester's violent crime rate is 105.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1328.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dorchester are operated by DORCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. 13.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dorchester, NE has a population of 547, a median household income of $57,708, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dorchester averages 33.1°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.9 inches
with about 23.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dorchester, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68343.
The population of Dorchester, Nebraska is 547 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dorchester: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $128,400, median household income $57,708, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dorchester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
