Compare towns
Gloucester vs Rockport vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Rockport has the most expensive homes ($746k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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.
| Measure | Gloucester | Rockport | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,075Highest |
7,009Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3 26% above MA |
59.7±3.3Highest 49% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
38.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Gloucester 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±$15k 7% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$746,100±$47kHighest 33% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$1,851±$219Highest 5% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$6,215 4% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Rockport 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 | #124 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Rockport | Sutton |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Rockport Middle High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
8.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.