What are the schools like in Gloucester, MA?

Gloucester is served primarily by Gloucester. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

What is the median household income in Gloucester?

The median household income in Gloucester, MA is $84,465 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Gloucester, MA?

Gloucester has an average high temperature of 36.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 51.4 inches.

Gloucester, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Gloucester, MA affordable or expensive?

Gloucester's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gloucester is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $535,100 and the median rent is $1,390 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Gloucester, MA?

Gloucester has a violent crime rate of 277.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 552.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gloucester, MA a Good Place to Live?

Gloucester is a small city of 29,830 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $84,465 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Gloucester stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gloucester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gloucester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Gloucester's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gloucester costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Gloucester, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$535,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,390	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$84,465	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Gloucester's violent crime rate is 277.8 per 100,000 residents — 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

277.8 /100k

Property Crime

552.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gloucester is served primarily by Gloucester. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gloucester, MA	National Avg
School District	Gloucester	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	39.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gloucester sees average highs of 36.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July, with 48.0 inches of annual precipitation and 51.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gloucester, MA
Average High — January	36.6°F
Average High — July	80.1°F
Annual Precipitation	48.0"
Annual Snowfall	51.4"

Demographics

Metric	Gloucester, MA	National Avg
Population	29,830	—
Median Age	51.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	15.4%	22.2%
65 and over	25.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rockport, MA 3 mi Essex, MA 4 mi Ipswich, MA 8 mi Beverly, MA 10 mi Rowley, MA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Gloucester

Gloucester, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01930

Gloucester vs Other Cities

Gloucester, MA vs Rockport, MA Gloucester, MA vs Essex, MA Gloucester, MA vs Ipswich, MA Gloucester, MA vs Beverly, MA Gloucester, MA vs Rowley, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gloucester, MA affordable or expensive?

Gloucester's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Gloucester roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $535,100 and median rent is $1,390/month.

What is the crime rate in Gloucester, MA?

Gloucester's violent crime rate is 277.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 552.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gloucester?

Public schools in Gloucester are operated by Gloucester. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 39.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gloucester, MA a good place to live?

Gloucester, MA has a population of 29,830, a median household income of $84,465, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Gloucester?

Gloucester averages 36.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.0 inches with about 51.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Gloucester?

Gloucester, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01930.

What is the population of Gloucester?

The population of Gloucester, Massachusetts is 29,830 with a median age of 51.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gloucester?

Key numbers for living in Gloucester: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $535,100, median household income $84,465, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gloucester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.