County profile · Maryland
Dorchester County, MD market data
How Dorchester County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 33,628
- +3.4% since 2020
- Households
- 13,546
- Median household income
- $61,839
- +16.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $262,400
- Jobs located here
- 12,352
- Highest market score
- 84
- Pet businesses, #35 of 2,200 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Dorchester County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Dorchester County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Dorchester County has an estimated 33,628 people and 13,546 households. Population estimates show Dorchester County grew 3.4% from 2020 to 2025, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Dorchester County is $61,839, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 16.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dorchester County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Of the business types scored in Dorchester County, pet businesses (84), dentists and orthodontists (72) and bakeries and dessert shops (71) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #35 of 2,200 scored counties.
Dorchester County is part of the Cambridge area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for landscaping and lawn care companies (85% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (56% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Dorchester County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Dorchester County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 84 | #35 of 2,200 | 7 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 181 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 72 | #216 of 1,886 | 8 | 5.9 | $1.8M | 179 | 4 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 71 | #236 of 1,889 | 7 | 5.2 | $6.7M | 162 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 70 | #295 of 2,063 | 8 | 5.9 | $5.9M | 159 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 70 | #370 of 2,087 | 9 | 6.6 | $2.6M | 208 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 68 | #427 of 2,210 | 14 | 10.3 | $1.7M | 193 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 67 | #334 of 2,088 | 9 | 6.6 | $953K | 144 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 66 | #309 of 1,792 | 5 | 3.7 | $1.7M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 65 | #613 of 2,272 | 14 | 10.3 | $2.2M | 177 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 63 | #437 of 2,176 | 22 | 16.2 | Index only | 160 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 61 | #713 of 2,358 | 16 | 11.8 | $2.3M | 96 | 11 |
| Pizza | 60 | #640 of 2,090 | 9 | 6.6 | $5.2M | 103 | 23 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 56 | #647 of 1,707 | 8 | 5.9 | $4.5M | 94 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 53 | #765 of 1,771 | 15 | 11.1 | $1.2M | 74 | 15 |
| Real estate | 52 | #983 of 2,229 | 28 | 20.7 | Index only | 158 | 20 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #1,189 of 2,339 | 26 | 19.2 | $431K | 100 | 6 |
| Nail salons | 49 | #732 of 1,328 | 6 | 4.4 | $1.9M | 112 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #1,227 of 2,385 | 47 | 34.7 | $238K | 112 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 49 | #1,247 of 2,394 | 86 | 63.5 | $164K | 108 | 22 |
| Child care and preschools | 48 | #881 of 1,611 | 8 | 5.9 | $686K | 68 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,289 of 2,405 | 139 | 102.6 | $339K | 91 | 49 |
| Roofing and gutters | 47 | #658 of 1,177 | 5 | 3.7 | $7.1M | 84 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 47 | #809 of 1,493 | 12 | 8.9 | $1.6M | 53 | 10 |
| Spas and skin care | 46 | #1,018 of 1,769 | 11 | 8.1 | $1M | 116 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 46 | #1,384 of 2,405 | 78 | 57.6 | $603K | 91 | 21 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 43 | #1,421 of 2,222 | 23 | 17.0 | $2M | 67 | 23 |
| Funeral homes | 42 | #932 of 1,472 | 7 | 5.2 | $304K | 45 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 38 | #1,028 of 1,422 | 7 | 5.2 | $2M | 84 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 38 | #1,072 of 1,530 | 5 | 3.7 | $2.2M | 90 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 37 | #1,594 of 2,261 | 18 | 13.3 | $4.3M | 55 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 36 | #1,489 of 2,070 | 15 | 11.1 | $5.2M | 56 | 7 |
| Home repair trades | 36 | #1,679 of 2,057 | 22 | 16.2 | $1.6M | 67 | 26 |
| Auto repair shops | 31 | #1,988 of 2,378 | 32 | 23.6 | $351K | 79 | 17 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 30 | #1,962 of 2,402 | 46 | 34.0 | $1.7M | 50 | 14 |
| Car washes and detailing | 28 | #1,254 of 1,451 | 7 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 28 | #2,092 of 2,401 | 58 | 42.8 | $194K | 72 | 23 |
| Electricians | 26 | #1,043 of 1,160 | 9 | 6.6 | $4M | 33 | 12 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 25 | #1,149 of 1,302 | 9 | 6.6 | $1.6M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 24 | #1,206 of 1,327 | 7 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 52 | 5 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $2.8M | 149 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $2.8M | 102 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $4.7M | 264 | 12 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $9.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | 13 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $14.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $23.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $18.6M | Too few | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $23.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $11.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $11.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Dorchester County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.2M | $830 | 87 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $36.5M | $2,691 | 104 |
| Food away from home | $47.1M | $3,474 | 85 |
| Groceries | $77.5M | $5,723 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.2M | $827 | 82 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.5M | $405 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $8.6M | $633 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.1M | $1,041 | 81 |
| Pets | $11.2M | $824 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $23.8M | $1,756 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $31.1M | $2,293 | 117 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $35.7M | $2,636 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $18.6M | $1,374 | 97 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $192M | $14,173 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Dorchester County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 33,628+3.4% since 2020
- Households
- 13,546
- Median age
- 43.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 541 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 61
- Median household income
- $61,839+16.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,771
- Median home value
- $262,400
- Jobs located here
- 12,352
- Daytime population
- 29,247Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Dorchester County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Dorchester County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Maryland 8
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- Caroline County, MD33,669 people
- Wicomico County, MD104,914 people
- Calvert County, MD94,313 people
- Queen Anne’s County, MD51,825 people
- Somerset County, MD24,822 people
- St. Mary’s County, MD115,126 people
- Worcester County, MD53,700 people
Questions
How fast is Dorchester County, MD growing?
Population estimates put Dorchester County at 33,628 people in 2025, up 3.4% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 13,546 households. Median household income rose 16.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Dorchester County, MD spend?
Households in Dorchester County spend about $192M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $77.5M on groceries and $47.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Dorchester County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Dorchester County, MD?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Dorchester County are for pet businesses (84), dentists and orthodontists (72) and bakeries and dessert shops (71). Dorchester County ranks #35 of 2,200 scored counties for pet businesses.
How does Dorchester County, MD compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Dorchester County is $61,839 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $262,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Dorchester County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for landscaping and lawn care companies (85% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (56% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 39 of the 56 business types have a score in Dorchester County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Dorchester County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Maryland · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Dorchester County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Dorchester County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.