Gloucester, MA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Massachusetts·Gloucester

Essex County · Boston-Cambridge-Newton · population 30,491

Gloucester, MA
Image: Wikipedia · Gloucester, Massachusetts
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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72
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Gloucester stands

At or near all-time high. rents up 7.8% in the last year.

Median home $771,391
1-year +2.1%
5-yr CAGR +6.5%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.6%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$771k$373k$516k$659k$802k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
70/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$2,595/mo$2,187$2,489$2,7922026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent1031121002026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 24.8
Lean rent

At a 24.8 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Gloucester. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
61 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
72 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
58 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
73 · w10%
Long thesis

Gloucester has held up across the cycle: home values at $771,391 with +6.5% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Gloucester's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Gloucester

Gloucester is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, with an estimated population of 30,491. It anchors the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. The population grew 0.6% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Gloucester is $771,391 as of 2026-04, up 2.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.5% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Gloucester average $2,595 per month, up 7.8% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +6.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +2.1% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
●Hot rental market: rents up 7.8% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Rental squeeze: rents up 7.8% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Gloucester (Wikipedia)

Gloucester is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. census. An important center of the fishing industry and a popular summer destination, Gloucester consists of an urban core on the north side of the harbor and the outlying neighborhoods of Annisquam, Bay View, Lanesville, Folly Cove, Magnolia, Riverdale, East Gloucester, and West Gloucester.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Essex County right now.

NWS active alerts (MA)Massachusetts Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Essex County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Gloucester

Attleboro, MA71 · RisingLeominster, MA70 · RisingHaverhill, MA68 · RisingFitchburg, MA71 · Rising

Run the numbers for Gloucester

ToolCan I afford Gloucester?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Gloucester rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Gloucester to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolGloucester cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
35° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
81° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
200
~55% of year
Annual precip
48″ rain
43″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Moderate
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Gloucester listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
70%
Humid climate
Median household income
$96,500
Massachusetts state median
Top industries (state-level)
TechBiotechEducation/Healthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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