City · Massachusetts
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester, city, in Essex County, Massachusetts. Gloucester had 30,627 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 29,729 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 30,075 (±32). GEOID 2526150.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
30,627
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 29,729 · ACS 2020-2024: 30,075 ±32
Median household income
$83,883
±$5,521 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$600,600
±$17,698 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,411
±$94 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Gloucester and what county is it in?
Gloucester is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts. It covers 26.2 square miles of land, 1,135 residents per square mile in 2020.
Gloucester is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Gloucester, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 30,627 people lived in Gloucester on July 1, 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 29,729 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 30,075 (±32).
| Measure | Gloucester | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 30,075 ±32 | 813,054 | −87 |
| Households | 13,444 ±416 | 313,147 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.22 ±0.07 | 2.54 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 14,867 ±423 | 329,776 | no clear change |
Gloucester's population since 2000
From 30,273 in 2000 to 30,627 in 2025: up 1.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Gloucester as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Gloucester?
The median resident of Gloucester is 50.2 years old; 15.1% are under 18 and 27.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.3%. 10.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Gloucester | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 ±2.3 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.1% ±1.5 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 27.9% ±2.2 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Male | 48.9% ±1.6 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.3% ±1.4 pts | 24.1% | +2.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.2% ±2.3 pts | 64.5% | −3.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±1.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.9 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.0 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.2% ±1.6 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.3% ±2.0 pts | 28.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.2% ±1.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.1% ±1.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.5% ±0.8 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.5% ±1.3 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.3% ±2.7 pts | 43.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.6% ±1.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.7% ±2.1 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Gloucester earn?
Half of Gloucester's 13,444 households earn less than $83,883 a year (±$5,521), against $101,883 in Essex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $89,316 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Gloucester | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,883 ±$5,521 | $101,883 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $118,570 ±$8,043 | $140,098 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,768 ±$3,506 | $54,665 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.6% ±1.9 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.7% ±6.1 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.9% ±2.2 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.2% ±1.8 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.7% ±2.1 pts | 92.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Gloucester?
Owners occupy 63.9% of Gloucester's occupied homes and renters 36.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $600,600 by its owner (±$17,698). The median renter pays $1,411 a month including utilities, and 48.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Gloucester | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $600,600 ±$17,698 | $619,100 | +$77,063 |
| Median gross rent | $1,411 ±$94 | $1,756 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.5% ±7.5 pts | 46.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,661 ±$121 | $2,867 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.9% ±3.3 pts | 63.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.1% ±3.3 pts | 36.5% | – |
| Housing units | 14,867 ±423 | 329,776 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 49.4% ±2.5 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.5% ±1.3 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 47.2% ±3.3 pts | 34.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.5% ±1.7 pts | 9.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Gloucester building?
Builders took permits for 77 new housing units in Gloucester in 2025 (28 in single-family houses), 2.5 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Gloucester work and get to work?
71.9% of Gloucester's workers drive alone and 12.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Gloucester | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.9% ±2.2 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±1.7 pts | 5.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 71.9% ±2.9 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.3% ±1.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.2% ±0.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Walked | 6.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.7% ±2.4 pts | 16.4% | +7.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.9 min ±1.5 | 28.5 min | −2.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Gloucester?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Gloucester, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $53,524 (Tract 2215) to $116,250 (Tract 2219.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2213Essex County | 4,761 | $115,841 |
| Tract 2214Essex County | 3,921 | $69,830 |
| Tract 2211Essex County | 3,859 | $86,799 |
| Tract 2219.02Essex County | 3,675 | $94,145 |
| Tract 2219.01Essex County | 3,473 | $116,250 |
| Tract 2217Essex County | 2,883 | $79,762 |
| Tract 2216Essex County | 2,876 | $58,571 |
| Tract 2215Essex County | 2,819 | $53,524 |
| Tract 2218Essex County | 1,808 | $106,705 |
| Tract 9901Essex County | 0 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Gloucester) · Census block assignment files
How does Gloucester compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Gloucester is the 1,337th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 45th-most populous of 58 in Massachusetts.
Gloucester ranks 358th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 45th | 58 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 77th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 167th | 461 |
| Median household income | 358th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 259th | 460 |
| Median home value | 176th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 254th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 84th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 294th | 459 |
| Median age | 111th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 375th | 460 |
| Work from home | 323rd | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 375th | 459 |
Gloucester's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Gloucester with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Gloucester?
7 of the 57 figures for Gloucester on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Gloucester are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Gloucester.