What is the cost of living in Gloucester, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gloucester has an overall cost of living index of 140, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Gloucester has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Gloucester ranks as #58 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Gloucester ranks as the #55 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Gloucester, check out:
Gloucester Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gloucester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gloucester is 108.
The Groceries index in Gloucester is 112.
The Health index in Gloucester is 201.
The Housing index in Gloucester is 114.
The Transportation index in Gloucester is 114.
The Utilities index in Gloucester is 111.
| Living Expense | Gloucester | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 140 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 201 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 114 | 100 |
Gloucester Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gloucester, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Gloucester is $760,558.
The Median Rent in Gloucester is $1,411.
The Median Income in Gloucester is $83,883.
The Home Value To Income in Gloucester is 9.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gloucester is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Gloucester | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $760,558 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,411 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $83,883 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.1x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Gloucester, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Gloucester Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gloucester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gloucester Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gloucester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gloucester Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gloucester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gloucester Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gloucester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gloucester Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Gloucester | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Gloucester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gloucester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gloucester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lynn, MA has a cost of living index of 136, 1.0x Gloucester.
Peabody, MA has a cost of living index of 142, 1.0x Gloucester.
Salem, MA has a cost of living index of 135, 1.0x Gloucester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn, MA | 101,709 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Peabody, MA | 54,695 | 142 | 1.0x |
| Salem, MA | 44,795 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Beverly, MA | 42,665 | 148 | 1.1x |
| Danvers, MA | 28,098 | 145 | 1.0x |
| Marblehead, MA | 20,413 | 176 | 1.3x |
| Newburyport, MA | 18,652 | 162 | 1.2x |
| Swampscott, MA | 15,277 | 160 | 1.1x |
| Lynnfield, MA | 13,064 | 179 | 1.3x |
