Rockport, MA

Where every street ends at the sea

Perched at the very tip of Cape Ann, Rockport is the kind of New England town that earns its postcard reputation the hard way — through centuries of salt air, granite quarries, and a creative spirit that still draws artists from around the world. The town's iconic red fishing shack, Motif No. 1, has been called the most painted building in America, and the winding lanes of Bearskin Neck are lined with galleries, studios, and locally owned shops that have resisted the pull of chain retail for generations.

Home to roughly 7,100 residents, Rockport is a place where median household incomes sit around $93,000, over half the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, and the median age of 59 reflects a community that has increasingly become a destination for those seeking a quieter, more intentional way of life. With 69% of its housing stock consisting of detached single-family homes, this is a town built — quite literally, from its own granite — for people who want to put down roots.

It's also one of the most supply-constrained markets on the North Shore. Here's what the numbers look like.