Gloucester's standout: it has 115 miles of trail. Overall it grades C+, 217th among Massachusetts's 282 graded towns. It is more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $767K for a typical one and 6.6 times the Boston metro’s $116K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 99% of U.S. towns, with 30 places on the National Register. Gloucester’s trail density is 2.8 miles per square mile, where Massachusetts’ towns sit at 1.8 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Its National Register listings include ADVENTURE (schooner) and Beauport.

StrongestA⁺Outdoors A⁺History A⁺WalkabilityWeakestC⁻Cost of living CSchools

What makes Gloucester stand out

Where Gloucester beats most towns.

ADVENTURE (schooner)

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1623

A history going back 403 years.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 95% of U.S. towns

8.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

ADVENTURE (schooner) · National Register of Historic Places

Gloucester’s story

403 years in pictures

ADVENTURE (schooner) is one of 2 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1623, comes before those of 98% of the Massachusetts towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 5,317 in 1790, 29,729 in 2020. The archive holds 29 old photos and papers going back to 1801 and 8 maps from 1886 on.

30 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1623Gloucester is settled

Explore the history →

How Gloucester grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Massachusetts), ordered by how far Gloucester is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.5 of 20; 7.5% of households have no carA⁺Open →Cost of livingC⁻Open →SchoolsCOpen →HealthNortheast Hospital Corporation 10.7 miles awayB⁺Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 30% of U.S. communities; coastal flooding tops the listB⁺Open →SafetyBOpen →Jobs & income$84K median household incomeB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

OutdoorsA⁺Open →History38 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life2.2 library visits per resident; 5.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market22 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 50.2; 40% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Fenway Park and 146 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Gloucester. Close and well known come first.

All 189 attractions →

Big draw29 mi Stadium & arenaFenway Park

Big draw29 mi MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum

27 mi AttractionFreedom Trail

36 mi LakeWalden Pond

29 mi MuseumMuseum of Fine Arts Boston477K visitors a year

26 mi MuseumBunker Hill Monument

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Fenway Park: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Sean Dungan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Freedom Trail: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Walden Pond: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Museum of Fine Arts Boston: Martin~jawiki at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bunker Hill Monument: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting set up

Moving to Gloucester: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Gloucester, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerNational Grid33.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterGloucester Public Utility DivisionNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site

SchoolsGloucester School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Massachusetts you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 10 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereGloucester City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025

ZIP code0193001930 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Gloucester.

Gloucester is healthy by national standards but behind most towns in Massachusetts; it also reports more crime than Essex and its other graded neighbors and trails Manchester-by-the-Sea and its other neighbors on schools.

OutdoorsA⁺

20% of Gloucester is conserved land

On this, Gloucester is against 19% in Massachusetts’ towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Gloucester Water Supply Land, at 1,450 acres with 24.9 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#58for trails in MA

20%

conserved · 5,272 of 26,402 acres

115 mi

of trails · 2.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Gloucester Water Supply Land	24.9 mi	1,450
2. Tompson Street Reservation	12.9 mi	347
3. Ravenswood Park	8.8 mi	589

Full pageGloucester’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map115 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk24.9 miles of trail · Gloucester Water Supply Land Conserved land20% conserved · 5,272 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Gloucester?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsC

On state tests, Gloucester’s schools trail 74% of Massachusetts districts

Each of its 4 graded neighbors has a higher School Grade than its C, Manchester-by-the-Sea highest at A.

Its public schools are run by the Gloucester school district. Three of its 8 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

26%of MA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Ralph B O'Maley MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	619	C
Gloucester HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	776	A⁻
Plum Cove SchoolTop results in townGrades K–5	Grades K–5	217	A⁻

Full pageGloucester’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsGloucester Vs. the neighborsBehind its 4 graded neighbors Every school8 schools · Ralph B O'Maley Middle Questions“Are Gloucester’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MA on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B⁻

Most of Gloucester’s workers commute out: the town has 0.7 jobs for each of them

About one in 3 of Gloucester’s working residents works in town. Gloucester’s average trip to work is 24 minutes. Since 2013, Gloucester has added 836 jobs, to 9,896 in 2023.

31%work in town

	Gloucester	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	31%	9.8%	8%
Average trip to work	24 minutes	30 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$84,000	$120,000	$80,000
Work from home	13%	18%	11%

Where working residents work

In Gloucester31%

Boston11%

Beverly8%

Danvers3%

Peabody2%

14 mi

median commute distance

9,896

jobs based in Gloucester

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns

Full pageGloucester’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here9,896 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work31% work in Gloucester Commute times24 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 14 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HealthB⁺

Residents of Gloucester are healthier than 71% of U.S. towns

Within Massachusetts it is less healthy than 77% of the 279 graded towns: Massachusetts sets a high bar. All 4 graded neighbors score healthier than its B+, from Rockport (A) to Manchester-by-the-Sea (A+).

Gloucester beats the Massachusetts average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 15% of Gloucester adults binge drink.

71%healthier than U.S. townsB⁺Health Grade

	Gloucester	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	15%	17%	16%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	30%	33%	33%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	83%	82%	79%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	30%	28%	35%

32 measures vs. Massachusetts

5 better19 too close to call8 worse

What stands out	Gloucester	MA
Fewer uninsured adults	4.3%	5.2%
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity	9.5%	11.1%
More adults with COPD	7.9%	5.9%

Northeast Hospital Corporation

10.7 mi away · emergency room

1 of 3

care shortages: primary care

23rd

percentile among MA towns

Full pageGloucester’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby10.7 miles to an ER · Northeast Hospital Corporation How adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distress Every CDC estimateBetter than MA on 5 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Who lives here

Older than Massachusetts overall

People 65 and older are 28% of residents (18% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 18% of residents (24% statewide). 15% of residents are under 18 in Gloucester. Gloucester has grown 3% since 2020, to 30,627 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

50.2median age · MA 40

	Gloucester	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	28%	19%	18%
Median age	50.2 years	43.4 years	40.5 years
Under 18	15%	20%	22%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	40%	47%	29%

GloucesterMassachusettsUnited States

MAU.S.

Ages · share of residents

18%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma7%

High school28%

Some college16%

Associate’s10%

Bachelor’s24%

Graduate17%

Women and men · all residents

51% women, 49% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.6 points. Across Massachusetts, 51.1% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Gloucester
	Gloucester	MA	U.S.
Under 10	9.3%	10.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	5.9%	9.2%	10.3%
18 to 24	7.2%	9.8%	9.1%
25 to 34	10.6%	14%	13.7%
35 to 44	12.1%	13%	13.2%
45 to 54	10.3%	12.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	16.8%	13.6%	12.7%
65 to 74	17.8%	10.5%	10.2%
75 and older	10.1%	7.4%	7%
No diploma	6.5%	8.6%	10.4%
High school	27.7%	22.6%	26%
Some college	15.9%	14.1%	19.1%
Associate’s	9.6%	7.5%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	23.7%	25.5%	21.6%
Graduate	16.6%	21.8%	14.1%

Full pageGloucester by the numbersOpen the page

Ages50.2 median age · 28% are 65 or older Schooling40% have a four-year degree Homes64% own their home · Homeowners Income$84K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B⁺

Gloucester faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by coastal flooding

322 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 40 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 70% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 322 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Gloucester.

30risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Coastal floodingInland floodingHurricanes

322

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageGloucester’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims322 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters13 federal disasters · Paid out in Gloucester Get readyReady for coastal flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Gloucester has snowy winters and pleasant summers

Gloucester has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Gloucester is 79°F.

51″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter22–38°

Spring37–55°

Summer60–77°

Fall44–61°

Oct 12

typical first frost

May 4

typical last frost

+1.7°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageGloucester’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 79°, January lows 20°Rain & snow51″ of snow a winter · 48 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.7° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

For cost of living, Gloucester earns a C−

The typical Gloucester home is worth about $767,000, up 2.3% in a year, 17% above the Massachusetts typical home.

$767KZillow home value

	Gloucester	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	64%	79%	73%
Median rent	$1,411 a month	$1,683 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Gloucester$767K

Massachusetts$655K

Market temperature

days on market

98.9%

sale-to-list price

+2.3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageGloucester’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 2.3% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 9.1 years of income Rents$1,411 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of all 4 graded neighbors

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SafetyB

Gloucester reports less crime per resident than 58% of U.S. towns

Gloucester is safe by national standards, yet each of the 4 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Essex (B+) to Rockport (A).

Massachusetts has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Gloucester sits closer to the middle.

58%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade

	Gloucester	Massachusetts towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	2.3 per 1,000 residents	1.4	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	5.3 per 1,000 residents	4.9	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Gloucester2.3

Massachusetts3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Gloucester5.3

Massachusetts10.4

U.S.15.5

58th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

38th

percentile among MA towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

161

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageGloucester’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2.3 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 4 graded neighbors Questions“Is Gloucester, MA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Gloucester

20pages on Gloucester

The big questions

SchoolsCBehind 74% of MA districts · 8 schools SafetyB2.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB⁺Better than MA on 5 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁻$767K typical home · up 2.3% in a year Work & commuteB⁻$84K median household income · 9,896 jobs here Natural hazardsB⁺FEMA risk higher than 30% of U.S. communities · coastal flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁺115 mi of trails · 20% conserved land PlacesAttractions189 nearby · Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial under 1 mi LibraryB2.2 library visits per resident CollegesGordon College is 7.4 mi away

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1623 · 30 on the National Register Famous people38 born in Gloucester Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 36 residents Climate79° summer highs · 51″ of snow

Day to day

News2 recent stories about Gloucester WeatherHandbookZIP code 01930, 01931 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

6 within 15 miles of the center of Gloucester

Gordon CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wenham7.4 mi$30,700 tuition Salem State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Salem13.5 mi$12,338 in-state tuition North Shore Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Danvers14.6 mi$5,352 in-state tuition

About 3 of every 100 Gloucester residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Massachusetts.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

By the sea

Gloucester lives by the ocean

Coastal flooding makes up 40% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.

40%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding

99thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally

322paid flood-insurance claims since 1978

10storm & flood disasters paid out here

On the water

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap

Landmarks

30 places in Gloucester on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

ADVENTURE (schooner)National Historic Landmark

BeauportNational Historic Landmark

Fitz Henry (formerly known as Fitz Hugh) Lane House

Gloucester City Hall

Famous people from Gloucester

38 notable people were born in Gloucester.

See all 38 →

Maila NurmiFinnish American actress · 1922–2008

Jessie RalphActress · 1864–1944

Judith Sargent MurrayAmerican writer and advocate for women's rights · 1751–1820

Fitz Henry LaneAmerican painter and printmaker · 1804–1865

Benjamin A. Smith IIAmerican politician and Senator from Massachusetts · 1916–1991

Roger BabsonAmerican entrepreneur and business theorist · 1875–1967

About Gloucester

City in Massachusetts, United States

Official town website ↗

Gloucester ( GLOS-tər) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. census. An important center of the fishing industry and a popular summer destination, Gloucester consists of an urban core on the north side of the harbor and the outlying neighborhoods of Annisquam, Bay View, Lanesville, Folly Cove, Magnolia, Riverdale, East Gloucester, and West Gloucester.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1623
Area: 42 sq mi
Elevation: 49 ft
ZIP code: 01930, 01931

Gloucester’s neighbors

4 towns share a border with Gloucester.

Explore the map →

All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C+; Rockport (B+) is closest.

Manchester-by-the-SeaRockportEssexIpswichGloucester

Manchester-by-the-Sea

Visit

Rockport

NE · 2% of Gloucester workers commute here

Visit

Essex

W · 2% of Gloucester workers commute here

Visit

Ipswich

NW · 2% of Gloucester workers commute here

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	MA rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Gloucester	#217	C⁺	C⁻	B	C	B⁺
Manchester-by-the-Sea	#16	A⁺	C⁻	A	A	A⁺
Rockport	#118	B⁺	D	A	B⁻	A
Essex	#67	A	D	B⁺	A	A⁺
Ipswich	#59	A	C⁻	A	B⁺	A

Compare Gloucester with a neighbor →

Questions about Gloucester

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Gloucester, MA a good place to live?

Gloucester grades C+ overall, better than 42% of U.S. towns and #217 of 282 in Massachusetts. It grades B+ for health, B for safety and C for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.

Is Gloucester, MA safe?

Yes, by national standards. Massachusetts has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Gloucester sits nearer the middle.

Is Gloucester, MA expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Gloucester, MA known for?

38 notable people were born here, including Maila Nurmi and Jessie Ralph.

Post to Gloucester

Check your email

GloucesterMA

Is Gloucester a good place to live?

What makes Gloucester stand out

403 years in pictures

How Gloucester grades

Fenway Park and 146 more within 40 miles

Moving to Gloucester: who provides what

The data

20% of Gloucester is conserved land

On state tests, Gloucester’s schools trail 74% of Massachusetts districts

Most of Gloucester’s workers commute out: the town has 0.7 jobs for each of them

Where working residents work

Residents of Gloucester are healthier than 71% of U.S. towns

Older than Massachusetts overall

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

Gloucester faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by coastal flooding

Gloucester has snowy winters and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

For cost of living, Gloucester earns a C−

Typical home value

Gloucester reports less crime per resident than 58% of U.S. towns

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Everything we know about Gloucester

Colleges nearby

Gloucester lives by the ocean

Landmarks

Famous people from Gloucester

About Gloucester

Gloucester’s neighbors

Questions about Gloucester