The best available recent estimates suggest that around 34–35% of Dorchester, Boston’s population is African American , and that figure is likely still in that general range in 2026, though exact 2026 data are not yet published.

Quick Scoop: Where That Number Comes From

Recent demographic snapshots for Dorchester show:

  • One major data source lists African American residents at about 34% of the neighborhood’s population.
  • Another analysis of 2010–2020 census trends for Dorchester reports the Black/African American share at about 35% , noting a decline from about 43% in 2010.
  • A focused look at Dorchester Center (one part of Dorchester) finds Black residents at roughly 68.8% , which is higher than the overall Dorchester neighborhood because it zooms in on a specific area.

Taken together, these point toward a mid-30s percentage for Black/African American residents across Dorchester as a whole.

Why 2026 Is An Estimate, Not A Precise Number

  • Official, fully processed census-style numbers for 2026 at the neighborhood level are not generally available yet; most sources rely on the 2020 Census plus yearly surveys and model-based estimates.
  • The 34% figure comes from a demographics platform that compiles recent survey and census-based estimates for Dorchester.
  • The 35% figure comes from a neighborhood-level analysis of census data and American Community Survey trends for Dorchester.

Because these sources are close in time and agree reasonably well, treating “about one-third” (roughly 34–35%) as the likely 2026 share is a realistic, data-informed approximation rather than a precise official statistic.

Mini Breakdown: Dorchester’s Racial Mix (Approximate)

Here’s a simplified view based mainly on one recent demographic snapshot for Dorchester:

[2] [2] [2] [2] [2] [2]
Group Approximate share
African American 34%
Hispanic 22%
White 22%
Asian 10%
Two or more races 10%
Other race 1%
These numbers describe Dorchester as a **highly diverse** Boston neighborhood where African American residents remain one of the largest single groups.

Important Caveats

  • Different sources may use slightly different boundaries (Dorchester vs Dorchester Center vs specific ZIP codes like 02122), which can shift percentages up or down.
  • Percentages are based on estimates and past census data , so they can lag behind real-time changes driven by housing costs, migration, and local economic trends.
  • For policy work, grant applications, or academic research, it’s best to cite the underlying dataset (e.g., American Community Survey and the exact year) and not a rounded estimate.

If you need a number to use right now, describing Dorchester as “about one-third African American as of the mid‑2020s” is consistent with multiple recent data sources.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public data and analyses available on the internet and portrayed here.