What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rockport has the most people working from home (22%).

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	Rockport
People
Population	30,075Highest	7,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.2±2.3Lowest 26% above MA	59.7±3.3Highest 49% above MA
Kids under 18	15.1%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	13.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Gloucester and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gloucester and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA	$96,250±$15kHighest 7% below MA
	Rockport and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,600±$18kLowest 7% above MA	$746,100±$47kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,411±$94Lowest 20% below MA	$1,851±$219Highest 5% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,152Lowest about the MA average	$6,215Highest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rockport 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%	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 18% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	22%±5.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#164 of 282 in MA	#124 of 282 in MA
School district	Gloucester	Rockport
High school in town	Gloucester High	Rockport Middle High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Highest	8.3Lowest
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.