Gloucester, Massachusetts Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Gloucester is a mid-sized community located in Massachusetts, within Essex County. The total population is 30,075. It ranks as the 51st most populous out of 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gloucester is 50.2 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 40.0 years. 10.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gloucester is $83,883. This is 19% lower than the state median of $103,960. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 4% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $600,600. Housing costs are 7% higher than the state median of $562,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 62.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Gloucester has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 7.2%.

Education

40.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 47.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%. Notably, 16.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gloucester, Massachusetts is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.