Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Massachusetts, Gloucester is healthier than 23% of graded towns
Gloucester differs from Massachusetts on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gloucester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gloucester
Massachusetts sets a high bar
Gloucester is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns, but only 23% of the 279 Massachusetts towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Gloucester scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Gloucester’s B+, from Rockport (A) to Manchester-by-the-Sea (A+). Around town ↓
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Gloucester
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.9%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.1%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.5%, vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. In all, Gloucester runs above Massachusetts on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Massachusetts 18%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Gloucester, and more people treating it
35.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Massachusetts 30.9%), but 79.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside Gloucester’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Gloucester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gloucester is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns, #215 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 83% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 51%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Gloucester’s median household income is $83,883; among the 10,468 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$105K), it’s healthier than 76%, about where its income would put it.
Gloucester and the towns around it
Gloucester’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | B+ | 30.2% | 11% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | A+ | 25.3% | 8.5% | 6% | ZIP 01944 |
| Rockport | A | 27.7% | 11.1% | 9.2% | ZIP 01966 |
| Essex | A+ | 27.2% | 8.3% | 8.6% | ZIP 01929 |
| Ipswich | A | 27.5% | 9.6% | 9.1% | ZIP 01938 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Gloucester adults…
Gloucester runs above MA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Gloucester is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Massachusetts. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Gloucester as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gloucester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Care in and near Gloucester
2 community health centers in Gloucester, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gloucester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
115 miles of trails across 92 parks and preserves
How Gloucester adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Gloucester does better than Massachusetts.
3 in 10 Gloucester adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14% of Gloucester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gloucester adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gloucester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gloucester is better than Massachusetts on 5 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Gloucester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gloucester | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.1%15.1–19 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.6–15.6 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14–17.3 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.2%26–34.3 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.6–12.3 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.9%32.9–38.7 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%35.5–41.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.4%27.7–32.9 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%11–13.5 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.1–12 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.2 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%7–8.9 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.7%8.8–12.9 | 11.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%11–14.5 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.8%20.7–26.8 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.9–17 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8%30.9–39 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.6–5 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.8%80.5–84.9 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.2%69.5–74.9 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.8%89.6–91.8 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.4–81.4 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.4%70–76.8 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.4%78.7–87.5 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%21.1–26.5 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.4%27.1–33.7 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%19–24.2 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%9.9–13.2 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8.2–10.8 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.1–7.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14%12.1–15.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%26.5–32.6 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12.3–15.4 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.1–8.9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–4 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Gloucester
Is Gloucester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gloucester is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #215 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 76%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gloucester?
CDC estimates 30.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 26% and 34.3%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gloucester?
Northeast Hospital Corporation in Beverly, 10.7 miles in a straight line from Gloucester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gloucester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.6–5%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Gloucester more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gloucester.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.