What is the average apartment size in Dorchester, Boston, MA?

The average size for a Dorchester, Boston, MA apartment is 784 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Dorchester?

As of Jun / 2026, the average rent in Dorchester is $2,722 per month, a 11.73% decrease from last years average of $3,083.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Dorchester?

In Dorchester, studios rent for $2,256 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,453 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,116 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $4,062 per month

What is the average apartment size in Dorchester?

The typical apartment in Dorchester offers about 784 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Dorchester?

Studio apartments in Dorchester average 503 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 689 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 966 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,269 sq. ft.

Dorchester, Boston, MA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Dorchester?

The typical rent budget in Dorchester ranges from $3,000 to per month, with 33% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Dorchester?

In Dorchester, 61% of households rent while 39% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: July 03, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Dorchester is $2,722, a 11.73% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,083.

Studio Apartments at $2,256 offer the most budget-friendly option with 503 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 689 square feet for $2,453, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $3,116 offer 966 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,269 sq ft) for $4,062, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Dorchester, Boston, MA

Last updated: July 03, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$2,722	784 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,256	503 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,453	689 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,116	966 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$4,062	1,269 sq. ft.

Dorchester, Boston, MA rent trends

Rental prices in Dorchester, Boston, MA have decreased by 11.73% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,083 to $2,722.

What's the typical rent budget in Dorchester, Boston, MA?

The largest share of rentals in Dorchester, Boston, MA (33%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Dorchester, Boston, MA?

20,913 or 61% of the households in Dorchester, Boston, MA are renter-occupied while 13,150 or 39% are owner-occupied.

Most affordable neighborhoods in Dorchester?

Mattapan $2,279/month

Roxbury $2,616/month

West Roxbury $2,715/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,713/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Dorchester?

Downtown - Financial District $4,667/month

Back Bay $4,821/month

Bay Village $6,331/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Bay Village	$6,331
Back Bay	$4,821
Downtown - Financial District	$4,667
South Boston	$4,268
Chinatown - Leather District	$4,151
West End Boston	$4,070
Fenway - Kenmore	$4,020
South End Boston	$3,961
Charlestown	$3,509
Allston - Brighton	$3,365
Jamaica Plain	$3,205
East Boston	$3,194
Mission Hill	$3,078
Dorchester	$2,903
Roslindale	$2,869
Beacon Hill	$2,771
West Roxbury	$2,715
Roxbury	$2,616
Mattapan	$2,279

Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Dorchester is 14% lower than in Allston - Brighton

$2,903

Dorchester rent is 7% higher than Boston average

Average Rent $2,903

$3,365

Allston - Brighton rent is 24% higher than Boston average

Average Rent $3,365

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Dorchester apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.