Dorchester, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 879, Dorchester's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Dorchester is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Marathon County. The total population is 879. It ranks as the 421st most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dorchester is 34.5 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 29.2% of the population under 18, Dorchester has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dorchester is $60,536. This is 22% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.5%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $156,000. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $266,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Dorchester is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dorchester is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (13.7% vs 8.0%).

Education

9.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dorchester, Wisconsin is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.