Dorchester County, MD Average Home Price (2026)
The average home price in Dorchester County, Maryland is about $287,000 (the 2026 median across 15 ZIP codes, at ~$213/sq ft) — 35% more affordable than the Maryland median and 1% more affordable than the typical U.S. home.
How Dorchester County compares
Dorchester County is about average for housing nationally: its typical home costs $287,000 against $441,000 for Maryland and $289,000 for the U.S. Within the county, ZIP-level values run from about $112,000 to $585,000.
| Area | Typical value | $ / sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County | $287,000 | $213 |
| Maryland | $441,000 | $233 |
| United States | $289,000 | $193 |
Dorchester County home prices by ZIP code
The 15 most valuable ZIP codes in Dorchester County (of 15 with data):
| ZIP code | Typical value | $ / sq ft | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21675 Wingate | $585,000 | $308 | +104% |
| 21677 Church Creek | $477,000 | $377 | +66% |
| 21835 Linkwood | $441,000 | $232 | +54% |
| 21669 Taylors Island | $379,000 | $293 | +32% |
| 21631 East New Market | $332,000 | $213 | +16% |
| 21659 Rhodesdale | $305,000 | $207 | +6% |
| 21634 Fishing Creek | $297,000 | $268 | +3% |
| 21648 Madison | $287,000 | $289 | +0% |
| 21643 Hurlock | $274,000 | $168 | -5% |
| 21622 Church Creek | $262,000 | $249 | -9% |
| 21613 Cambridge | $260,000 | $173 | -9% |
| 21869 Vienna | $239,000 | $187 | -17% |
| 21664 Secretary | $237,000 | $198 | -17% |
| 21626 Crapo | $200,000 | $105 | -30% |
| 21672 Toddville | $112,000 | $124 | -61% |
Home value appreciation in Dorchester County
Home prices in Dorchester County have risen about 88% over the last 10 years (≈6.5% a year) and +43.8% over 20 years, according to the FHFA house price index through 2025. The most recent year came in at +2.8% — still rising. A home worth $287,000 today was worth roughly $152,497 ten years ago.
See where that trend takes a specific home with the home appreciation calculator — statewide, Maryland is +59.8% over the same 10 years. Past appreciation is a track record, not a forecast; local prices can fall.
Calculators for Dorchester County
Run the numbers for Dorchester County with the local rates already filled in — change any input to test your own situation.
Salary needed to buy a home in Dorchester County
To buy the typical $287,000 home in Dorchester County with 20% down, you need a household income of roughly $78,000 a year (about $1,820 a month for the mortgage, taxes, and insurance). With 10% down the bar rises to about $93,000, because the loan is bigger and mortgage insurance kicks in.
| Down payment | Cash down | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% (+PMI) | $14,400 | $2,260/mo | $97,000/yr |
| 10% (+PMI) | $28,700 | $2,160/mo | $93,000/yr |
| 20% | $57,400 | $1,820/mo | $78,000/yr |
Assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.5%, property tax at 1.1% and insurance at 0.45% of value per year, PMI of 0.75% on loans with less than 20% down, and the standard 28% housing-to-income rule. Your rate, taxes, and HOA will move these — run your own numbers in the mortgage calculator.
What your budget buys in Dorchester County
At about $213 per square foot, here is roughly how much home different budgets get you in Dorchester County:
| Budget | Approx. size | What that looks like locally |
|---|---|---|
| $150k | 700 sq ft | below the local median — condos, smaller or older homes |
| $200k | 940 sq ft | below the local median — condos, smaller or older homes |
| $250k | 1170 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $300k | 1410 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $400k | 1880 sq ft | above the median — larger homes or the pricier ZIPs |
Wondering where that budget goes further? The relocation calculator ranks hundreds of U.S. cities by what the same money buys — it opens filtered to Maryland.
Estimate a specific home in Dorchester County
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Dorchester County home prices: frequently asked
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Browse all Maryland cities and counties, or look up price per square foot by ZIP code nationwide.
Directional estimates from public market data (Realtor.com & Zillow research; FHFA house price index; Census ZIP-to-county relationships), not appraisals.