Dorchester County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Dorchester County is located in Maryland with a total population of 32,612. It is the 21st most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dorchester County is 43.9 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dorchester County is $60,495. This is 40% lower than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.3%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $252,300. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 66.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dorchester County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.9%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 6.4%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 42.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.8%.