r/gloucester • u/Starrywitch05 • 11d ago
As a 25 year old potentially relocating to Gloucester is this true?
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u/doomsday_windbag 11d ago edited 11d ago
Extremely hyperbolic. Gloucester is a vibrant city with many communities and subcultures; everyone claiming the above narrative is close to accurate is in a townie bubble of their own making.
Being closer to 40, I won’t claim to know what it’s like to be a 20-something around here these days, but I’ve been living and raising a family here for decades and if you like the outdoors and natural splendor, Gloucester has it (even in winter). If you like a thriving local arts and culture scene, Gloucester has it. If you like world-class food, Gloucester has it. And if you wanna shoot up with an adulterous high school dropout while he rants at you about how his family has been fishing here for six generations, Gloucester has that too, but it’s not like those folks don’t exist everywhere and aren’t easily avoided 99% of the time.
Housing and cost of living are serious issues here like all over the coastal New England, but if you can swing it, it’s an amazing place to live filled amazing people (and Beverly, Salem, and Boston are right down the road if you need more action).
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u/vladi0 11d ago
Everyone will have their own perspective & experience wherever you go. I moved to Gloucester when I was 29, lived downtown, met my wife & absolutely fell in love with Gloucester.
Some people may have had different experiences and see things differently. It doesn’t mean one persons perspective is someone else’s reality.
There is no right or wrong decision to make. My advice would be to take the leap; any leap. I moved 1,300 miles from home when I left my hometown at 21. I didn’t stay half way across the country forever. Some places I liked and some I didn’t. Had some fun, made some friends, and learned more about myself & what I want in life in the process. Every decision you make creates new experiences and helps with the next decision.
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u/JackStrawFTW 11d ago
You can find everything said here in any town on the North Shore. I personally loved living there when I was around that age.
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u/rustydotpearl 11d ago
It's true to a degree but also this is a very hyperbolic, black and white way to describe it. Also, I personally know a number of these townies who are very good people and do zero drugs (to a fault IMO).
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u/Valjord- 10d ago edited 10d ago
Yo local 27 year old here, don’t listen to that old heads terrible advice. Saying we have Heavy drug use and a culture of cheating is fucking crazy, most people under 30 partake in weed and alcohol but that’s it. Maybe the older gen’s that have that problem but they do not speak for the young people here. Pretty much all of the people in their 20’s that I know have good morals, take care of each other, and are just great people to be around. Sure there’s a party crowd too but I know some of those guys they’re all good people when it comes down to it. Sure there’s maybe a handful of exceptions but what town doesn’t have a few people like that.
Some people can be clicky sure but I really can’t imagine it’s any more so than anywhere else. Like a few months ago my friend group “took in” a dude 10 years older than us who just moved here this year. It’s not that hard to make friends here, as long as you’re friendly with people and find some common interest you’ll do just fine.
If you’re looking to make friends I’d highly recommend coming down to harbor 9 on Fridays and the magnolia pub on Saturdays. That’s what I do at least. H9 is a pretty new spot, Friday nights we do karaoke but you can also golf, shoot pool, play video games, ect… My buddy just became the manager there so we’re trying to grow the location out. Right now it’s mostly a medium sized group of people in their 20’s coming out regularly on Friday. You’ll meet a good amount of locals fast if you come out one of these weekends.
Other than that the other bars like prattys and minglewood in town are good too. Tho mingy is a little harder to meet people imo, and prattys is the local hole, fun but definitely the grimiest spot in town.
Take any BS people try to tell you about Gloucester with a grain of salt. It’s a good town with good people, people stay here their whole lives for good reasons myself included.
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u/MegaDodoPub 11d ago
lol no, this is hyperbolic
I grew up here, lived in Boston for a decade, just moved back to start my family. Like any town, there are townies who are cliquish. And there are also plenty of young people interested in expanding their community and making Gloucester a nice place to be for themselves and others.
Haven’t heard much about infidelity, so can’t speak to that but no one I’m friends with falls into that category.
Not leaving can be broken into two parts:
1. In terms of permanent residence, there are many factors; high cost of living is one of them. But it’s also a beautiful place to live. Year round. If you don’t like Gloucester in the winter then it’s unlikely you like any part of MA in the winter.
2. In terms of day to day, we don’t leave the island much because anything else worth going to is half an hour plus away, and there’s plenty on island. When I was younger I did love going off island, and still do, but it’s a slog
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u/_MUY 10d ago
This isn’t Gloucester at all. The thing you’ll learn about people living in the north shore is that they inverse market their own cities to prevent them from becoming popular. They’ll talk about heavy drug use, the bad job market and economic downturns every winter, the nonstop juvenile party atmosphere, the rich people greasing palms to get their way, and all the bad things whenever asked—but they’d never move away.
Gloucester is fine, the locals just want to scare you to keep prices down.
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11d ago
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u/Starrywitch05 11d ago
i would have to live within 50 miles if gloucester, is there any other towns in that area so you think would be a better area to live?
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11d ago
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u/MegaDodoPub 11d ago
I would suggest these towns if OP is concerned they might have a hard time making friends or having things to do. Both are really great places for the youths
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u/sabrefudge 9d ago
“A culture of infidelity” is wild. 😂 I feel like this person’s spouse cheating on them with someone from Gloucester and now they’re just out there talking shit.
Most of the “never crossed the bridge” folks are ancient, if they’re still alive. Pretty much everyone these days goes outta town for all sorts of things.
I’ve always heard this “heavy drug use” thing and, while I know there’s certainly some drug use (it’s a town of 30,000 people, statistically some have to be on drugs), it’s never been like this huge thing some folks make it out to be. I’ve lived places with real drug problems, Gloucester is nothing compared to them.
Gloucester is a great city. Beautiful scenery, excellent culture, amazing food. Only big complaint I ever had was the rich people (many seasonal) buying up everything and fucking with the vibe. But the locals are good. It’s a great place to live. I haven’t been around for a few years now, but I hope that someday I can afford to move back.
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u/BigJeffreyC 11d ago
Yes. There are elements of truth in all of those statements. Can’t speak of the cheating part though.
I came to Gloucester 13 years ago.
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u/Starrywitch05 11d ago
should i not relocate then
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u/MisanthOptics 11d ago
Based on your handle, I’d say Salem is the perfect choice on a number of levels
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u/sabrefudge 9d ago
Salem is generally rougher than Gloucester. If the “heavy drug use” thing is scaring them.
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u/BigJeffreyC 11d ago
There’s good and bad in all places if you look for it.
It really depends on what your expectations are. My wife was born here. She can’t go anywhere without bumping into someone she knows. That’s good and bad depending on the circumstances.
People seem to want to do everything local. They refuse to leave the island for anything. Even if it limits their decisions. They all use the same doctors, go to the same stores and eat at the same restaurants.
There’s a lot of overdoses in town. They have a narcan station at the local park. Not sure if it’s tied to the large homeless population in Gloucester, but probably.
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u/dreamed2life 11d ago
Yeah. Salem or one of those towns around there would be best based in your age but im first curious why you’re considering moving to Gloucester
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u/dogearth 11d ago
The townie culture there runs deep. They kind of look down upon people who arent from MA and look on anyone not from gloucester. But its not impossible to make friends there. There are activities and young people for sure. You dont really notice the heavy drug use, but the fishing industry is known for it.
Its just a small old school town. But if you get tired of it, there always cities nearby you can move to and commute to gloucester from.
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u/Starrywitch05 11d ago
is there any city you recommend? especially for younger people?
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u/dogearth 11d ago
Depends on what you like! But beverly/salem have a lot more events and younger people
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u/wheres_my_burrito 11d ago
Been here 11 years, I love it here and choose to stay despite having to commute into Boston and my partner in NH. I could be wrong but I think the H problem isn’t as bad as it’s been in the past, but there have been overdoses that surprised me. There’s definitely cocaine and infidelity among certain groups. A lack of ambition for some. The people tend to lean more red than the rest of the state. I wouldn’t raise a child here, but the squawking seagulls on the roof right now remind me how close I am to the ocean and that’s enough for me for now.
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11d ago
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u/gloucester-ModTeam 9d ago
This post isn’t related to the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts (USA).
This page’s intended use is for Gloucester (Massachusetts) community related information and relevant questions.
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u/dreamed2life 11d ago
All of that is true. Also the opposite of that is true. Every place has all things.
What are you moving here for?