Boston, MA 02121 · 02122 · 02124 · 02125
Dorchester Real Estate
Triple-deckers, Victorian hills and Dorchester Avenue, from Savin Hill to Lower Mills
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02121 · 02122 · 02124 · 02125
- Getting around
- Red Line at JFK/UMass, Savin Hill, Fields Corner, Shawmut and Ashmont; Mattapan trolley from Ashmont; Fairmount Line at Uphams Corner, Four Corners/Geneva and Talbot Avenue; Kingston, Greenbush and Fall River/New Bedford commuter rail at JFK/UMass; buses 22 and 23
- Typical homes
- Wood triple-deckers and two-families, Victorian and Colonial Revival single-families, and newer condo buildings near Red Line stops
Boston's largest neighborhood started as its own town, settled by Puritans in 1630 and annexed to Boston in 1870. Streetcar lines then turned its farms into a dense grid of wood triple-deckers, and those houses still define much of the landscape today. Dorchester is less one place than a collection of villages, each with its own square, such as Uphams Corner, Fields Corner, Codman Square, Adams Village and Lower Mills.
Dorchester Avenue, known locally as Dot Ave, runs the length of the neighborhood and links many of those centers. The Red Line follows a parallel route on the eastern side, while the Fairmount Line commuter rail serves the western neighborhoods. Along the water, Columbia Point holds the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and UMass Boston, and Pope John Paul II Park lines the Neponset River at the southern edge.
History shows up in small details. The James Blake House, built in 1661, is the oldest house in Boston, and the old Baker Chocolate factory buildings in Lower Mills have been converted to housing. Hills like Savin Hill, Ashmont Hill and Jones Hill hold some of the neighborhood's larger Victorian houses.
Where Dorchester is
Living in Dorchester
What makes Dorchester special
Columbia Point
The JFK Presidential Library and Museum, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute and UMass Boston share this harbor peninsula near JFK/UMass station.
Neponset River parks
Pope John Paul II Park and the Neponset River Greenway offer meadows, paths and river views along the neighborhood's southern edge.
Victorian hills
Ashmont Hill, Savin Hill and Jones Hill have streets of Queen Anne and Shingle Style houses with porches, turrets and deep yards.
Two rail lines
The Red Line's Ashmont branch serves the east side, and the Fairmount Line stops at Uphams Corner, Four Corners/Geneva and Talbot Avenue.
Village squares
Fields Corner, Codman Square, Adams Village and Lower Mills each have their own run of shops, restaurants and services along major streets.
Harbor beaches
Malibu Beach and Savin Hill Beach sit along the harbor near Morrissey Boulevard, with the Harborwalk passing toward Columbia Point.
The Market
Dorchester homes & real estate
Dorchester has more housing variety than its triple-decker reputation suggests. Wood three-family and two-family houses from roughly 1890 to 1930 make up a large share of the stock, and many have been converted to condos. On the hills (Ashmont Hill, Savin Hill, Jones Hill, Melville Park) there are larger Victorian, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival single-families. Adams Village and the Neponset area have more early 20th-century single-families and two-families. Near the Red Line, especially by JFK/UMass, Savin Hill and Fields Corner, newer mid-rise condo and apartment buildings have been added.
With such a large area, conditions vary a great deal from street to street and even between neighboring houses. Buyers of multifamilies should review rent rolls, leases and any open code issues, and condo buyers should look at how small associations share repairs and insurance. Older houses may need updates to wiring, heating or lead paint compliance. Some areas near Columbia Point, Morrissey Boulevard and the Neponset shoreline are in flood zones. For a pricing picture specific to your part of Dorchester, send us a note and we'll gather recent sales nearby.
Helpful guides: Renting in BostonFirst-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Compare: South Boston vs. Dorchester
Getting around: Red Line guide
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes cover Dorchester?
Dorchester is covered mainly by ZIP codes 02121, 02122, 02124 and 02125, with a small portion falling in 02126.
How do you get to downtown Boston from Dorchester?
The Red Line runs from Ashmont, Shawmut, Fields Corner, Savin Hill and JFK/UMass to South Station and Downtown Crossing. The Fairmount Line commuter rail runs from Talbot Avenue, Four Corners/Geneva and Uphams Corner to South Station, the Kingston, Greenbush and Fall River/New Bedford commuter rail lines also stop at JFK/UMass, and Interstate 93 runs along the eastern side.
What types of homes are for sale in Dorchester?
Dorchester listings include condos in converted triple-deckers, whole two- and three-family houses, Victorian and Colonial Revival single-families on its hills, and units in newer condo buildings near Red Line stations.
What is Dorchester known for?
Dorchester is known for its triple-deckers, its village squares along Dorchester Avenue, Columbia Point's JFK Library and UMass Boston, the James Blake House, and its parks along the Neponset River.
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Dorchester home values
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Dorchester Heights, Broadway and a harbor shoreline from Carson Beach to Castle Island
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Roxbury
Nubian Square, the Fort Hill tower, Franklin Park and nearly four centuries of history
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Mattapan
Mattapan Square, the vintage trolley to Ashmont and the Neponset River at its edge
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Quincy
Four Red Line stops, Wollaston Beach, granite quarry history and the Adams family homes
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South Boston vs. Dorchester
South Boston and Dorchester are adjoining Boston neighborhoods built largely of wood triple-deckers and two-families. South Boston is a compact peninsula with one ZIP code and two Red Line stops, while Dorchester is Boston's largest neighborhood, with several village squares, five Red Line stations and commuter rail on the Fairmount Line and at JFK/UMass.
Read more