What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).

Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gloucester	Oxford
People
Population	30,075Highest	13,385Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA	$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,600±$18kHighest 7% above MA	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,411±$94Highest 20% below MA	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA
	Gloucester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,152Highest about the MA average	$4,622Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest MA: 10%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 18% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oxford and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#164 of 282 in MA	#245 of 282 in MA
School district	Gloucester	Oxford
High school in town	Gloucester High	Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.