02121 Property Tax Rate
Dorchester, Massachusetts · Part of Suffolk County
Effective Tax Rate
0.53%
49.2% below state avgMedian Annual Tax
$2,910
$243/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$2,910
Monthly
$242
Eff. Rate
0.53%
Buyer decision brief
What ZIP 02121 means for your housing budget
Use this ZIP page to compare recurring tax burden before you compare listing prices. The numbers below are Census ZCTA estimates, so they are strongest for neighborhood comparison and weakest for parcel-specific tax planning.
Monthly escrow signal
$243/mo
Based on median annual tax paid
State context
0.60 percentage points below the Massachusetts average
Massachusetts average: 1.13%
Data confidence
Moderate confidenceThe Census margin of error is $867, about 30% of the median tax estimate.
Verify before you offer
- Confirm parcel assessed value with Suffolk County assessor.
- Check homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions.
- Ask whether purchase triggers reassessment or value-cap reset.
- Review school district and special assessment boundaries.
Lower-rate similar ZIPs
This is informational content, not tax, legal, or mortgage advice. Local assessor records remain the source of truth for a specific property.
Data confidence ledger
Can you trust ZIP 02121 for comparison?
ACS vintage
2019-2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
Five-year Census ZCTA estimates.
ZCTA caveat
Census area, not parcel boundary
USPS ZIP routes and taxing districts can differ inside the same area.
Field completeness
3/3 required fields
Median tax, home value, and derived rate are present.
MOE status
Moderate ACS confidence
$867 tax MOE, 30% of the median tax estimate.
Last site refresh
March 10, 2026
Dataset and page-quality audit run locally before publication.
County fallback
County advisory available
Suffolk County is used for assessor verification and broader context.
Tax bill anatomy
What can change your actual bill in ZIP 02121
Use the ZIP estimate to compare neighborhoods, then verify these parcel-level inputs before relying on a payment estimate.
Assessed value
The ZCTA median home value is $548,100, but your bill starts with the local assessed value for a specific parcel.
Effective rate
The displayed rate is 0.53%, derived from median tax paid divided by median home value.
Exemptions
Homestead, senior, veteran, disability, and local exemptions can reduce taxable value. Confirm eligibility before estimating escrow.
Reassessment
A purchase can change assessed value depending on Massachusetts and county rules. Ask how sale price affects the next assessment cycle.
Escrow impact
The median tax paid in this ZCTA equals about $243 per month before insurance, HOA dues, or special assessments.
Assessor verification
Suffolk County assessor or tax collector records are the source of truth for parcel taxes, appeal windows, and exemptions.
How ZIP 02121 Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
ZIP 02121
0.53%
Effective rate
Massachusetts Avg
1.13%
Effective rate
National Avg
1.10%
Effective rate
State Ranking
Property Tax Rank in Massachusetts
Lower than 95% of ZIP codes in Massachusetts(5th percentile, 511 ZIPs compared)
Property Tax Analysis
Property Tax Insights for ZIP 02121
Property owners in ZIP code 02121 (Dorchester, Massachusetts) pay a median of $2,910/year in property taxes on homes valued at $548,100. This translates to an effective tax rate of 0.53%, which is 53% below the Massachusetts state average of 1.13%.
The monthly property tax burden for a median-valued home in 02121 is approximately $243, which factors into escrow payments on mortgages. This ZIP code is located within Suffolk County. This is $2,822 less than the Massachusetts average of $5,732/year.
Compared to similar ZIP codes in Massachusetts, 02121 has higher property taxes. ZIP codes with similar effective rates include 02124 (0.53%) and 02568 (0.53%).
In Dorchester, property taxes represent approximately 7.5% of the median household income of $38,565, providing context for the relative tax burden on homeowners in this area.
Massachusetts has no statewide property tax cap; Suffolk County (including Boston) reassesses properties regularly, so your assessed value will reflect current market conditions. Chapter 59 exemptions for seniors (65+), veterans, and surviving spouses can provide meaningful relief—submit your application to the Suffolk County Assessor's office by the October 1 deadline with documentation of eligibility. Review your property's assessment notice each year and file an abatement claim with the Suffolk County Assessor if the valuation appears excessive compared to recent sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in ZIP code 02121?
How much are property taxes in Dorchester, MA (02121)?
How does ZIP 02121 compare to the Massachusetts average?
What is the median home value in ZIP 02121?
What county is ZIP code 02121 in?
Margin of Error
The median property tax estimate for this ZIP code has a margin of error of ±$867. ZCTA-level data has wider margins than county-level estimates due to smaller sample sizes.
County-Level Data
ZIP code 02121 is part of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. View the full county profile for broader context and more data.
View Suffolk County on TaxByCounty →Explore Dorchester, MA
View all 3 ZIP codes in Dorchester with property tax comparisons.
View Dorchester Property Tax Rates →Why compare these ZIPs?
Better comparison set for ZIP 02121
Each ZIP highlights a homebuyer tradeoff: lower rate, stronger value context, shared county rules, city boundary changes, or nearby missing data.
02125
Dorchester, MA
0.04 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.49%
Tax
$3,141
Quality
91
02136
Hyde Park, MA
0.12 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.41%
Tax
$2,334
Quality
89
02126
Mattapan, MA
0.07 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.46%
Tax
$2,351
Quality
84
02119
Roxbury, MA
0.05 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.48%
Tax
$3,184
Quality
84
02131
Roslindale, MA
0.01 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.52%
Tax
$3,284
Quality
89
02468
Waban, MA
$1,261,200 higher median home value than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.55%
Tax
$10,001
Quality
68
02535
Chilmark, MA
0.20 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.33%
Tax
$5,935
Quality
77
02142
Cambridge, MA
0.35 percentage points lower than ZIP 02121.
Rate
0.18%
Tax
$3,160
Quality
83
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates (ZCTA level). ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census approximations of USPS ZIP codes.
Estimates are informational only and should not be used as financial or legal advice.