Village · Wisconsin
Dorchester, Wisconsin
Dorchester, village, mostly in Clark County (99.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Dorchester had 840 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 849 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 879 (±169). GEOID 5520450.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
840
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 849 · ACS 2020-2024: 879 ±169
Median household income
$60,536
±$12,654 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$156,000
±$15,145 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$837
±$54 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Dorchester and what county is it in?
Dorchester is a village mostly in Clark County (99.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Marathon County, Wisconsin. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 611 residents per square mile in 2020.
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County | 846 | 99.7% |
| Marathon County | 3 | 0.4% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Dorchester, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 840 people lived in Dorchester on July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020 Census counted 849 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 879 (±169).
| Measure | Dorchester | Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 879 ±169 | 34,739 | no clear change |
| Households | 319 ±63 | 12,839 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.72 ±0.38 | 2.67 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 347 ±64 | 14,961 | no clear change |
Dorchester's population since 2000
From 827 in 2000 to 840 in 2025: up 1.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Dorchester as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Dorchester?
The median resident of Dorchester is 34.5 years old; 29.2% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.7%. 4.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Dorchester | Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 ±10.1 | 36.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.2% ±6.9 pts | 29.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.0% ±6.4 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Male | 52.3% ±5.5 pts | 51.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.7% ±8.4 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.8% ±8.4 pts | 90.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.8% ±2.7 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.1% ±8.6 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±2.7 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 15.9% ±6.5 pts | 11.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.8% ±3.5 pts | 22.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.5% ±6.0 pts | 82.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.9% ±5.2 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.1% ±2.4 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.7% ±4.4 pts | 90.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±1.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Dorchester earn?
Half of Dorchester's 319 households earn less than $60,536 a year (±$12,654), against $67,400 in Clark County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $55,997 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Dorchester | Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $60,536 ±$12,654 | $67,400 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,856 ±$17,712 | $87,875 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,769 ±$5,996 | $32,627 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.5% ±8.0 pts | 12.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.7% ±19.9 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.8% ±5.0 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 84.3% ±7.0 pts | 83.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.6% ±6.8 pts | 78.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Dorchester?
Owners occupy 63.0% of Dorchester's occupied homes and renters 37.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,000 by its owner (±$15,145). The median renter pays $837 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Dorchester | Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $156,000 ±$15,145 | $172,800 | +$35,269 |
| Median gross rent | $837 ±$54 | $823 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 19.4% ±15.6 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,361 ±$141 | $1,353 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.0% ±8.1 pts | 78.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 37.0% ±8.1 pts | 21.5% | – |
| Housing units | 347 ±64 | 14,961 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±10.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±17.3 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.0% ±8.0 pts | 82.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.3% ±2.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0% ±1.7 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.7% ±1.8 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.0% ±7.5 pts | 24.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.5% ±5.7 pts | 9.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Dorchester building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Dorchester in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 3.6 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Dorchester work and get to work?
82.5% of Dorchester's workers drive alone and 7.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.3 minutes.
| Measure | Dorchester | Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.9% ±7.8 pts | 64.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±3.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.5% ±6.2 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8% ±4.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.2% ±4.2 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.3 min ±2.1 | 22.2 min | −5.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Dorchester?
No census tract lies mostly in Dorchester; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501Clark County | 4,881 | $62,976 |
| Tract 22Marathon County | 3,455 | $67,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Dorchester) · Census block assignment files
How does Dorchester compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Dorchester is the 11,014th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 396th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Dorchester is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 396th | 608 |
Dorchester's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Dorchester with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Dorchester?
20 of the 57 figures for Dorchester on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Dorchester are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Dorchester.