Dorchester is a small town of 163 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $35,217
.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dorchester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
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: 93.7
Dorchester's overall cost of living index is 93.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dorchester costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dorchester, NJ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$138,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,217
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Dorchester's violent crime rate is 424.7 per 100,000 residents
— 12% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
424.7 /100k
Property Crime
2431.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Dorchester, NJ
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
100.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dorchester sees average highs of 46.0°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 43.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 22.0 inches of snow per year.
Dorchester's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dorchester roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $138,000 and median rent is N/A/month.
Dorchester's violent crime rate is 424.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2431.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Dorchester, NJ has a population of 163, a median household income of $35,217, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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 46.0°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.4 inches
with about 22.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dorchester, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08316.
The population of Dorchester, New Jersey is 163 with a median age of 66.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dorchester: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $138,000, median household income $35,217, crime index 113 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.