Dorchester County Demographics

A map of Dorchester County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	19,895	19,891	60.7%	61.1%
Black	8,115	9,017	24.8%	27.7%
Multiracial	2,104	1,264	6.4%	3.9%
Hispanic	1,996	1,777	6.1%	5.5%
Asian	381	355	1.2%	1.1%
Native American/Other	263	227	0.8%	0.7%

Dorchester County, Maryland has an estimated population of 32,754, a less than 1% change from the 32,531 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 60.7% White, 24.8% Black, 6.4% Multiracial, 6.1% Hispanic, 1.2% Asian, and 0.8% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Dorchester County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Dorchester has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Maryland overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Dorchester County, that probability was 54.5% in 2020 and 56.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Dorchester County is ranked the 21st most populous county in Maryland, out of 24 counties. Dorchester County was ranked the 21st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Dorchester County's White Population

19,895 residents of Dorchester County, or 60.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Dorchester County is considerably higher than in Maryland overall, where 46.6% of the population is White. Dorchester County ranks 16th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dorchester County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Dorchester County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 60.7%.

Dorchester County is more White than neighboring Somerset County (50.8% White), and Wicomico County (57.9% White). Dorchester County is less White than neighboring Talbot County (73.8% White), Calvert County (73.6% White), and St. Mary's County (70.3% White).

Dorchester County's Black Population

8,115 residents of Dorchester County, or 24.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Dorchester County is slightly lower than in Maryland overall, where 28.9% of the population is Black. Dorchester County ranks 6th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dorchester County's Black population has declined by an estimated 10.0%. Black residents' share of Dorchester County's population has decreased from 27.7% to 24.8%.

Dorchester County is more Black than neighboring Talbot County (12.2% Black), Calvert County (11.9% Black), and St. Mary's County (14.6% Black). Dorchester County is less Black than neighboring Somerset County (38.5% Black), and Wicomico County (26.5% Black).

Dorchester County's Asian Population

381 residents of Dorchester County, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Dorchester County is lower than in Maryland overall, where 6.5% of the population is Asian. Dorchester County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dorchester County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 7.3%. Asian residents' share of Dorchester County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

Dorchester County is more Asian than neighboring Somerset County (0.7% Asian). Dorchester County is less Asian than neighboring Talbot County (1.4% Asian), Wicomico County (2.4% Asian), Calvert County (1.9% Asian), and St. Mary's County (2.6% Asian).

Dorchester County's Hispanic Population

1,996 residents of Dorchester County, or 6.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Dorchester County is lower than in Maryland overall, where 12.5% of the population is Hispanic. Dorchester County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dorchester County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Dorchester County's population has increased from 5.5% to 6.1%.

Dorchester County is more Hispanic than neighboring Somerset County (4.6% Hispanic), and Calvert County (5.2% Hispanic). Dorchester County is less Hispanic than neighboring Talbot County (9.6% Hispanic), and Wicomico County (7.1% Hispanic).

Dorchester County's Native American/Other Population

263 residents of Dorchester County, or 0.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Dorchester County is comparable to the share in Maryland overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Dorchester County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dorchester County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 15.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Dorchester County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Dorchester County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Talbot County (0.4% Native American/Other), Somerset County (0.7% Native American/Other), Wicomico County (0.6% Native American/Other), Calvert County (0.7% Native American/Other), and St. Mary's County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Dorchester County's Multiracial Population

2,104 residents of Dorchester County, or 6.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Dorchester County is comparable to the share in Maryland overall, where 4.6% of the population is Multiracial. Dorchester County ranks 16th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 24 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Dorchester County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 66.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Dorchester County's population has increased from 3.9% to 6.4%.

Dorchester County is more Multiracial than neighboring Talbot County (2.5% Multiracial), Somerset County (4.7% Multiracial), Wicomico County (5.4% Multiracial), and St. Mary's County (5.9% Multiracial). Dorchester County is less Multiracial than neighboring Calvert County (6.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.