Affordable & Income-Based Housing in Dorchester

Affordability

Dorchester has 53 HUD-assisted or income-based properties totaling 5,683 units, making it one of the more substantial sources of affordable rental housing in the Boston area. Median rent, median household income, and renter share figures are not available in our current data for this area.

Safety

Violent crime data specific to Dorchester was not available in our current dataset. For the most up-to-date local safety information, the Boston Police Department publishes crime statistics and neighborhood-level reports on its official website.

• HUD Inspection Scores: Of the 52 Lease Lantern-scored properties in Dorchester, 33 earned an excellent rating and 17 a good rating, with only 1 rated fair and 1 rated poor -- suggesting most buildings are well-maintained.
• Flood Risk: 2 of the 53 HUD-assisted properties in Dorchester are located in high-risk flood zones, according to flood mapping data.

Getting Around Dorchester

Scores reflect the area around assisted properties in Dorchester, according to Walk Score.

• Walk Score: 78 - Very Walkable
• Transit Score: 76 - Excellent Transit
• Bike Score: 51

Schools

According to NCES Common Core of Data, 30 schools across 5 districts serve Dorchester, including 18 elementary, 1 middle, and 11 high schools. Ratings and quality vary by school and district, so renters should check the assigned schools for their specific address.

Cost of Living and Affordable Housing

Dorchester is part of the Boston metro area, where housing costs are among the highest in New England. Affordable and income-based housing can significantly reduce rent burden for eligible households.

Lease Lantern tracks 53 HUD-assisted and income-based properties in Dorchester, covering 5,683 units -- one of the larger inventories of assisted housing in the region. Eligibility and rent levels vary by program and household income; contact individual properties or your local housing authority for current figures.

• Program types include: HUD-assisted rentals, Section 8 project-based housing, and LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) properties.
• Rent is typically capped at a percentage of household income or set at restricted rates below market -- the specific amount depends on the program and unit type.

No median household income figure is available in our current data for this area. For local income and cost benchmarks, the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey provides regularly updated estimates at census.gov.

Flood and Environmental Exposure

All 53 HUD-assisted properties in Dorchester were mapped against FEMA flood zone data. Only 2 of those 53 properties fall within a high-risk flood zone, meaning the large majority of affordable housing here carries low flood exposure.