Population 7,009 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rockport
Household size in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.20 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Rockport is a place of small households, averaging 2.23 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.34, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.9 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.1 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.8 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.0 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 56.8, Rockport is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 49.9, in line with the national trend. Only four of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Rockport (9.6%), below the national share of 11.6%. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 5.0 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rockport
Renters in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.4% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Rockport own their homes; 31.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (45.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the southeast. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.5% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.1% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.0% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Rockport: 22.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1954 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1951 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Rockport is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1951, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 24 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $932 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,118 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,358 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,884 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$952 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Rockport runs $1,884 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the Boston area as a whole ($2,051). Rent has climbed $952 a month since 2006–10, up 102%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 36.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rockport
Bachelor's degrees in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.9% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.4% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.0% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Rockport is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (54.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.9% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.5% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Rockport: 95.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rockport
| Period | Rockport | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rockport runs well above the national rate: 8.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only five have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rockport compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockport | 2.23 | 56.8 | 9.6% | 31.7% | 22.0% | 1951 | $1,884 | 54.0% | 95.8% | 8.8% |
| Gloucester | 2.25 | 49.9 | 8.1% | 36.1% | 10.3% | 1952 | $1,338 | 39.6% | 93.4% | 6.4% |
| South Essex | 2.55 | 50.2 | 9.4% | 26.8% | 26.0% | 1983 | $1,875 | 74.5% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Little Neck | 2.36 | 51.9 | 8.6% | 37.5% | 15.7% | 1977 | $1,566 | 63.7% | 98.2% | 1.8% |
| Essex | 2.73 | 46.2 | 8.2% | 25.0% | 15.6% | 1968 | $2,013 | 68.8% | 98.1% | 1.4% |
| Manchester | 2.55 | 49.6 | 5.2% | 24.2% | 6.1% | 1953 | $1,886 | 79.1% | 98.1% | 8.9% |
| Manchester-By-The-Sea | 2.61 | 43.6 | 6.0% | 33.3% | 3.4% | 1962 | $1,798 | 71.0% | 97.0% | 5.7% |
| Ipswich | 2.45 | 47.6 | 5.4% | 26.3% | 8.7% | 1960 | $1,662 | 60.4% | 98.6% | 2.5% |
| South Hamilton | 2.82 | 45.4 | 6.0% | 15.3% | 7.5% | 1959 | $2,200 | 69.1% | 97.4% | 3.1% |
| Wenham | 2.86 | 33.0 | 8.3% | 13.9% | 5.9% | 1967 | $2,071 | 70.1% | 99.5% | 2.6% |
| Plum Island | 1.77 | 60.2 | 4.6% | 27.3% | 38.1% | 1974 | $1,548 | 50.9% | 89.1% | 9.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Millersburg, PA · Morrison, CO · Morgantown, PA · Morgantown, KY · Miramar Beach, FL · Mira Monte, CA · Mineral, VA · Milton, WA · Millington, MI · Millersville, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rockport. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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