States › Massachusetts › Gloucester

Is Gloucester, MA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,756same as U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$90,468about $7,539/month · 4% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$600,60081% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 55% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.6 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $70,240 a year. That is $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 33 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Gloucester
$1,756
Wellesley
$2,686
Melrose
$2,868
Northampton
$1,747
North Attleborough Town
$1,757
Saugus
$2,879
West Springfield Town
$1,317

How much do households earn in Gloucester?

Under $25k
14.1%
$25k–50k
18.3%
$50k–100k
28.8%
$100k–150k
18.9%
$150k+
15.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 34.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Gloucester

SizeGloucesterU.S. average
Studio$767$1,338
1 bedroom$1,325$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,743$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,874$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,647$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Gloucester overall?

Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
128
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
152
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Gloucester, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Gloucester

🏛️ Property tax$6,152a year · 1.02% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$151a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Gloucester

Commute to work23.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree40.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home63.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line9.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gloucester?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,411 a month less.

Renting
$1,756
Owning
$4,167

Owning assumes a typical $600,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $60,060 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Gloucester, MA?

Renting in Gloucester costs a median of about $1,756 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.

How much do I need to make to live in Gloucester?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $70,240 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Gloucester cheap or expensive?

Gloucester is rated OK: rent takes 23.3% of the typical household income of $90,468. It ranks 33rd cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Gloucester?

The median homeowner in Gloucester pays $6,152 a year in property taxes, about 1.02% of the median home value.

Is Gloucester more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Gloucester?

The median home value in Gloucester is $600,600, about 6.6 times the typical yearly household income.

30,075 people live in Gloucester. Numbers are typical (middle) values.