What it's like to live in Haverhill
Haverhill is a smaller city in Massachusetts with air quality that stays clean most of the year 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. Haverhill deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 58" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Haverhill compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Haverhill
Based on Haverhill's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,336
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,720 a year
- 58% of Haverhill renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$90,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,390
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 18% above US
$1,668/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,668 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $453,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $453,900 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 12% above US
4.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
330 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 674/100k · Haverhill Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.4 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 Lowell National Historical Park (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Haverhill's strongest point is air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,668/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Haverhill
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Methuen Town →
5 mi away · pop. 53,475
Rent $1,749/mo · Income $113,310
Compare with Haverhill →Moving to Amesbury Town →
8 mi away · pop. 17,403
Rent $1,683/mo · Income $103,554
Compare with Haverhill →Not sure Haverhill is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.