VarroExplore other towns

Gloucester, MA

A town of about 30,075 people in Essex County, part of the Boston area. Resident comments and photos are about Gloucester; job numbers cover the wider area.

The Boston area:College town · College teaching jobs 2.0x the U.S. shareHealthcare and research hub · Healthcare and science jobs 1.6x the U.S. share
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Gloucester

lighthouse Gloucester Massachusetts
lighthouse Gloucester Massachusetts · Photo: Henry Zbyszynski from Capitola California, USA, CC BY 2.0
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester, Massachusetts · Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Gloucester Beach
Gloucester Harbor William Morris Hunt
Gloucester Harbor William Morris Hunt · Photo: William Morris Hunt, Public domain
Good Harbor Beach Gloucester, Mass
Good Harbor Beach Gloucester, Mass · Photo: ThePlatypusofDoom, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hammond Castle courtyard
Hammond Castle courtyard · Photo: Muffet, CC BY 2.0
Lane Fitz Hugh Braces Rock Eastern Point Gloucester
Lane Fitz Hugh Braces Rock Eastern Point Gloucester · Photo: Fitz Henry Lane, Public domain
What locals say

Loading what residents say about Gloucester...

Where it is
Gloucester
Gloucester in Massachusetts
Massachusetts in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Gloucester's center.

3
grocery stores
39
restaurants
11
coffee shops
54
parks
20
playgrounds
6
libraries
3
movie theaters
1
live theater
10
museums
7
bookstores
5
bars
2
pharmacies
1
hospital

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 4,615 rented homes in Gloucester, 86% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 26%
$1,000 to $1,499: 32%
$1,500 to $1,999: 28%
$2,000 to $2,499: 9%
$2,500 to $2,999: 3%
$3,000 or more: 2%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Gloucester rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Public schools

32 public school districts in this county, with about 106,583 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Gloucester · Gloucester
2,849 students · 10.7 students per teacher · 8 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lynn · Lynn
15,556 students · 12.2 students per teacher · 27 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lawrence · Lawrence
12,885 students · 11.2 students per teacher · 26 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Haverhill · Haverhill
7,865 students · 12 students per teacher · 17 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Methuen · Methuen
6,584 students · 12.3 students per teacher · 5 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$733,574
What a typical home sells for across the Boston area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
31 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,483 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in MA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$99,431
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.07% of home value a year
About $1,070 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 9%
MA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

More towns in Massachusetts →