Gloucester city, Massachusetts Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Gloucester city is a mid-sized community located in Massachusetts, within Essex County. The total population is 29,862. It ranks as the 50th most populous out of 248 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gloucester city is 51.0 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 40.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gloucester city is $87,898. This is 13% lower than the state median of $101,341. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.7%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $587,800. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $525,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Gloucester city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 6.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 12.9%. The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

38.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 46.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.9%. Notably, 15.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gloucester city, Massachusetts is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Massachusetts state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts. For official data, visit data.census.gov.