What it's like to live in Gloucester
Gloucester is a small city in Massachusetts with crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Gloucester deals with home prices well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 51" per year
How Gloucester compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Gloucester
Based on Gloucester's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,822
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,440 a year
- 52% of Gloucester renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$120,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $60,060
- Homes cost 7.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,411/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,411 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $600,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $600,600 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 32% below US
226 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 543/100k · Gloucester Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 20°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 12% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 40% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Salem Maritime National Historical Park (13 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Gloucester's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,411/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
See all the data for Gloucester →·All Massachusetts cities →
Other places near Gloucester
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Beverly →
10 mi away · pop. 42,665
Rent $1,771/mo · Income $106,044
Compare with Gloucester →Moving to Marblehead →
13 mi away · pop. 20,413
Rent $1,764/mo · Income $182,132
Compare with Gloucester →Not sure Gloucester is the one?
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