Essex County, Massachusetts
Rockport Homes For Sale
MA
$0
Median Home Value (ACS est.)
0
Active Single-Family Listings (early 2026)
0 mo.
Months of Supply (early 2026)
0%
Decline in Listing Volume Since 2014
Location
Where Rockport Sits
Live Listings
Homes For Sale in Rockport, MA
Listing information is provided by the MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Listings displayed may be subject to prior sale or withdrawal.
A Local's Perspective
Rockport, MA: Granite Roots and Gallery Charm at the Tip of Cape Ann
Rockport's story begins with granite. Richard Tarr, a granite cutter, is credited as the first settler of what was then called the Sandy Bay Colony around 1680, and a permanent dock went up at the harbor in 1743. For nearly two centuries the settlement remained part of Gloucester, but as its fishing and quarrying economy grew, residents pushed for an identity of their own — separating from Gloucester and incorporating as the Town of Rockport on February 27, 1840.
Granite defined the next century. By the 1830s, Rockport granite was already being shipped to cities up and down the East Coast, and the Rockport Granite Company (1865-1933) became the town's economic engine, with Finnish and Swedish immigrant laborers dominating the quarry workforce — a community that struck in 1899, with more than 2,000 workers winning a nine-hour workday and time-and-a-half overtime pay. Rockport's character wasn't only industrial: in 1856 a group of roughly 200 women led by Hannah Jumper marched through town destroying liquor in what locals call "Rockport's revolt against rum," and the town remained officially dry — one of only 15 in Massachusetts — until restaurants were finally allowed to serve alcohol in 2005 (retail package sales didn't arrive until 2019). As the quarries wound down, Bearskin Neck's old fishermen's shacks were reborn as the artist galleries and shops that still line it today, and the weathered red fishing shack known as Motif No. 1 on Bradley Wharf became one of the most-painted buildings in America.
Today Rockport is primarily a suburban residential and tourist town that still counts working lobstermen and practicing artists among its year-round population. Its real estate market reflects decades of limited land and steady demand: per Bentley's Real Estate's market spotlight on the town, annual single-family listing volume has fallen by more than half since 2014 (from roughly 141 listings to about 60 today), while buyer demand has held remarkably steady — leaving the market with only about two months of supply as of early 2026 and putting Rockport firmly in seller's territory.
At a Glance
- Population (2020 Census)
- 6,992
- Land Area
- 7.0 sq mi land / 17.5 sq mi total (incl. water)
- County
- Essex County, Massachusetts
- FY2026 Property Tax Rate
- $8.46 per $1,000 assessed value
- Walk Score
- 72-76 downtown/Dock Square ("Very Walkable"); car-dependent in outlying coastal areas
Source-verified as of 2026-07-23.
Highlights
Why People Choose Rockport
Motif No. 1
The weathered red fishing shack on Bradley Wharf is one of Cape Ann's most famous landmarks and reputedly one of the most-painted buildings in America.
Bearskin Neck
A narrow peninsula of former fishermen's and lobstermen's shacks reborn as a cluster of galleries, boutiques, and seafood shops jutting into Rockport Harbor.
Halibut Point State Park & Reservation
A former granite quarry (the old Babson Farm quarry) at the tip of Cape Ann, cooperatively managed by the DCR and The Trustees of Reservations, with hiking, tide pools, birding, and views stretching to Ipswich and Maine.
Shalin Liu Performance Center (Rockport Music)
An acclaimed Main Street concert hall with harbor views, home to the Rockport Chamber Music Festival and year-round performances.
Rockport Art Association & Museum
A longstanding Main Street institution showcasing work by generations of Cape Ann artists drawn to the town's coastal light.
Neighborhoods
Rockport's Neighborhoods & Villages
Rockport Village (Dock Square & Bearskin Neck)
The historic downtown core and state-designated Cultural District along Main Street, anchoring the town's shops, galleries, and harbor.
Pigeon Cove
A working harbor village on Rockport's northern edge, historically home to immigrant quarry-worker families, with a more secluded, less dense coastal setting.
Old Garden
A coastal residential area near Old Garden Beach, north of the town center.
South End
A residential neighborhood on Rockport's southern side, away from the tourist-facing downtown.
Lifestyle
Life in Rockport
Life in Rockport runs on tide and season — a small, walkable seaside village where art galleries, working fishermen, and granite history share the same few square miles.
Parks & Recreation
Parks in Rockport
Halibut Point State Park & Reservation
4 Gott Ave, Rockport, MA
- Hiking trails
- Former granite quarry overlook
- Tide pools
- Birding
- Picnicking
- Fishing
Atlantic Path / Sea Rocks
- Coastal walking path
- Ocean views
- Town-owned shoreline access
Schools
Schools Serving Rockport
Public Schools
Rockport Elementary School
PK-5
Rockport Middle School
6-8
Rockport High School
9-12
Private Schools
Landmark School (Prides Crossing)
Day/boarding, grades 2-12, specialized for language-based learning differences (dyslexia) — roughly 30 minutes from Rockport
School assignments are subject to change — always verify directly with the school district before making a decision. Source (verified 2026-07-23)
New Construction
Building in Rockport
Rockport has no large new subdivisions, but it is actively implementing the state's MBTA Communities Act (Section 3A), which requires zoning for multi-family housing near its commuter-rail station.
MBTA Communities Multi-Family Overlay District
Following a Special Town Meeting vote, Rockport amended its zoning bylaws to create a Transit-Oriented Village Overlay District and a multi-family overlay district near the Rockport commuter-rail station off Railroad Avenue, in order to comply with the state's MBTA Communities 3A law. The zoning was challenged by residents in court but was upheld.
Nearby Communities
How Rockport Compares
Gloucester
Cape Ann's larger working city offers a bigger harbor, more housing stock and price variety, and its own MBTA stop, without Rockport's decades-long liquor ban history.
Ipswich
Trades granite and gallery charm for salt marsh, Crane Beach, and a considerably larger, generally more attainable housing stock.
Essex
Known for clam shacks and antique shops rather than quarries and galleries, Essex offers a quieter, more rural alternative just up the coast.
Manchester-by-the-Sea
A wealthier North Shore harbor town with its own commuter-rail stop to Boston, but a different price tier and no granite-quarrying history.
FAQ
Rockport Real Estate — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Rockport, MA?
Rockport's FY2026 residential tax rate is $8.46 per $1,000 of assessed value, per the Town of Rockport Assessors Department.
How do you commute to Boston from Rockport?
Rockport station is the terminus of the MBTA Commuter Rail's Rockport (Newburyport/Rockport) Line, offering direct service to Boston's North Station. By car it's about 43 miles and roughly 54 minutes to downtown Boston.
Is Rockport at risk of coastal flooding?
Rockport sits on exposed granite coastline at the tip of Cape Ann, so shorefront and harbor-adjacent areas (such as Bearskin Neck and Front Beach) can see wave and storm-surge impacts during nor'easters and hurricanes. Buyers considering waterfront property should check current FEMA flood maps for the specific parcel.
Is Rockport walkable?
The downtown core around Dock Square and Main Street scores 72-76 on Walk Score ("Very Walkable"), but outlying coastal neighborhoods like Long Beach and Thatcher Road are car-dependent, scoring in the single digits.
What's the price range for homes in Rockport?
Median home value is estimated around $694,000, and inventory is tight: Bentley's Real Estate's market spotlight puts active single-family listings at around 60 homes with only about two months of supply as of early 2026 — a seller's market.
Does Rockport have town water and sewer service?
The Town of Rockport operates municipal utility departments; specific water and sewer service-area boundaries for individual properties should be confirmed with Rockport's Water/DPW departments or the town's GIS map, as coverage can vary by neighborhood.
What schools serve Rockport?
Rockport Public Schools operates Rockport Elementary (PK-5), Rockport Middle School (6-8), and Rockport High School (9-12), all sharing a campus on Jerden's Lane.
Ready to Explore Rockport Real Estate?
From Bearskin Neck cottages to Pigeon Cove waterfront estates, Rockport's tight, seller-favoring market moves fast. Connect with Bentley's Real Estate for local guidance on buying or selling on Cape Ann's most iconic coastal town.