Census Data for Gloucester
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Gloucester a population of 30,442 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Gloucester a population of 28,789 people.
The city of Gloucester is located in Essex County. The 2010 Census gave Essex County; a population of 743,159 people. This means that Gloucester had 3.87% of the county's total population, making it Essex's 9th most populous community.
At the same time, Massachusetts had a population of 6,547,629 people, meaning that Gloucester had 0.44% of the total population of Massachusetts - making it the state's 58th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Gloucester has a total area of 41.5 square miles [107.5 km²]. Of this total, 26.2 square miles [67.8 km²] is land, with the balance (36.88%) being water (15.31 square miles [39.6 km²]).
Essex County has a land area of 492.6 square miles [1,275.7 km²]. At 26.2 square miles [67.8 km²], Gloucester has 5.32% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Gloucester, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Gloucester reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Gloucester might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 42° 37' 44" (or 42.63°)
- Lon: -70° 41' 8" (or -70.69°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Gloucester had 14,557 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 28,789 people, this averages 1.98 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Gloucester had a land area of 26.2 square miles [67.8 km²]. This translates to 350.8 Housing Units per square mile [135.4 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Gloucester had 13,958 Housing Units, a population of 30,273 people and a land area of 25.96 square miles [67.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.17 people per Housing Unit and 336.4 Housing Units per square mile [129.9 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Gloucester and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Essex County ...
Gloucester is located in Essex County<4>.
The county had a population of 743,159 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 28,789 people, Gloucester represented 3.87% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Gloucester has a population density of 693 people per square mile [267.8 people/km²], Essex County averages 1,508 people per square mile [582 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Essex County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Gloucester, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Gloucester. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Gloucester or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Gloucester, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Gloucester.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 42.629024° (or 42°37'44" N)
- Lon: -70.685828° (or -70°41'8" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 42.624015° (or 42°37'26" N)
- Lon: -70.675521° (or -70°40'31" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,313 feet to the northwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#618297) to Gloucester. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Gloucester. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 42.630597° (or 42°37'50" N)
- Lon: -70.683612° (or -70°41'1" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 825 feet to the southwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Gloucester. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Gloucester.
Miscellaneous Information for Gloucester ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Essex County or the city of Gloucester:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 25 (Massachusetts)
- County Code: 009 (Essex County)
- Place Code: 26150 (Gloucester)
- State & County Code: 25/009 (Massachusetts / Essex County)
- State & Place Code: 25/26150 (Massachusetts / Gloucester)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Gloucester is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Gloucester, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Gloucester. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Gloucester:01930-01931<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Gloucester.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Gloucester: www.ci.gloucester.ma.us/
The official website for State of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Massachusetts' counties, including Essex, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 56 degrees and a distance of 3,313 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 133 degrees and a distance of 825 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Gloucester or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |