Haverhill, MA

About Haverhill, MA

Haverhill, Massachusetts, is a historic city located in Essex County, approximately 35 miles north of Boston. According to analyses of the town’s demographics, Haverhill is the 15th most populated city in Massachusetts. The city is situated along the Merrimack River and has a rich history dating back to its founding as a Puritan farming community in 1640.

Haverhill was originally founded as “Pentucket” and began as a farming community. It would eventually evolve into an important industrial center, known for its sawmills and grist mills (a building or mechanism for grinding cereal grains into flour). 

Later, it was known for its significant shoe-making industry. By 1913, one-tenth of the shoes produced in the United States were made in Haverhill. The city was nicknamed “Queen Slipper City.” Today, Haverhill has evolved into a diverse community that blends its industrial past with modern amenities and a growing economy.

The city’s unique geography, with the Merrimack River running through it, has shaped its development. The river continues to be a defining feature. In 2023, Haverhill started a $160 million revitalization effort of its downtown area. New residential and commercial developments are breathing fresh life into the historic district.

More recently, the Haverhill Public Library launched a $17 million renovation project. The project will include replacing the building’s exterior envelope as well as other targeted upgrades throughout the three-story library. Construction began in May 2026.

Haverhill has evolved into a diverse community that blends its industrial past with modern amenities and a growing economy.

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Politics

In the 2024 presidential election, Haverhill, Massachusetts, followed the broader trend of Essex County and the state of Massachusetts by voting predominantly Democratic. The town supported the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz over the Republicans Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.

Specifically, 16,959 people voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz compared to 13,635 who voted for Donald Trump and JD. Vance. Haverhill is one of the larger cities in Essex County, and a total of 31,591 votes were cast. 

Today, the city operates under a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor at the time of this writing, Melinda E. Barrett, is a third-generation Haverhill resident and the city’s first woman mayor.

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Taxes

For fiscal year 2026, Haverhill’s residential tax rate was set at $10.61 per $1,000.00 of assessed value. The commercial tax rate was set at $19.17 per $1,000.00 of assessed value.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services (DLS), the annual tax bill on the average valued single-family home in Haverhill was $5,962 in 2026. The average value of single-family homes in the town was $561,903, up from $532,126 in 2025.

Other data shows that the average Haverhill tax rate was 1.07% at the time of this writing, which is below the average of 1.15% for the state of Massachusetts.

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Commuting

Haverhill is well-connected to Boston and other major cities in the region. The city has its own stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail’s Haverhill Line, providing direct access to Boston’s North Station.

The Haverhill MBTA station in 2017. Credit: Wikipedia

For those preferring to drive, the simplest route is to take I-495 or Route 125 to I-93, then drive directly into the city. An alternate route is to travel east to I-95 south into the city, although this route may take longer.

The drive to Boston takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour, but as anyone who lives in the area will tell you, drive times can vary depending on traffic conditions, the time of day, and whether you’re driving *into* or *out of* Boston itself. 

Here’s an example of conditions driving out of Boston to Haverhill at 4:45 pm on a Tuesday.

Source: Google Maps

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Ride Share Availability

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are available in Haverhill. However, availability may be more limited compared to larger urban areas, especially during off-peak hours.

Sources:

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Education

Haverhill Public Schools’ FY2026 education budget was approximately $133.8 million. It was part of the city’s broader financial planning, which also included a draft $137 million spending plan proposed for the following school year

Haverhill is served by the Haverhill Public Schools district, which contains 16 schools and serves 7,882 students. It includes two preschools, 12 elementary schools, five middle schools, and two high schools.

Public and Private Early Education Schools

Haverhill Public Schools operates two preschool centers:

• Moody Preschool Extension: 443 W Lowell Avenue, 2nd Floor Haverhill, MA 01832
• Moody Elementary School: 59 Margin Street, Haverhill, MA 01832

Private early education options in the area include several Montessori and Christian preschool programs:

• Montessori Schools
  • Marigold Montessori: Trinity Church, 26 White St. (ages 2.9–6, part of the Wildflower Network)
  • Birch Tree Montessori School: 75 Foundation Ave. (ages 2.9–6)
  • Snowdrop Montessori School: 181 Washington St. (infant/toddler program, ages 15 months–3)
  • Wisteria Montessori School: 76 Merrimack St., Suite 4 (ages 2.9–6, Wildflower Network, multilingual/Spanish)

• Christian Early Education Schools
  • Hilltop School at West Church: 67 Broadway (Christ-centered, nondenominational preschool serving ages 1–7, over 50 years in the community)
  • Sacred Hearts Early Childhood Center at the Sacred Hearts School: 48 South Chestnut St. (Catholic, parochial Pre-K)

A few of these schools, including Marigold, Wisteria, and Snowdrop, operate under the Wildflower Network umbrella. This network runs micro-schools with authentic Montessori methodology across the city.

Public and Private Elementary and Middle Schools

• Public Elementary Schools
  • Bradford Elementary School: 118 Montvale Street, Haverhill, MA 01835
  • Golden Hill Elementary School: 140 Boardman Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
  • Silver Hill Elementary School: 675 Washington Street, Haverhill, MA 01832
  • Tilton Elementary School: 70 Grove Street, Haverhill, MA 01832
  • Pentucket Lake Elementary School: 252 Concord Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
  • Walnut Square Elementary School: 645 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
• Public Middle Schools
  • Dr. Albert B. Consentino Middle School: 685 Washington Street, Haverhill, MA 01832
  • Dr. Paul Nettle Middle School: 150 Boardman Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
  • John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School: 256 Concord Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
  • Caleb Dustin Hunking School (K–8): 480 South Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01835
• Haverhill has no dedicated private elementary or middle schools, although at least one private school (Bradford Christian Academy) serves grades K–12.

Public and Private High Schools

• Public High Schools
  • Haverhill High School: 137 Monument Street, Haverhill, MA 01832
• Haverhill Publicly-Run Alternative Education Schools
  • Gateway Academy: 415 Primrose Street Haverhill, MA 01830
  • Greenleaf Academy: 58 Chadwick Street Bradford, MA
• Private High Schools
  • Bradford Christian Academy (K–12): 320 South Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01835

Source: Haverhill Public Schools

Haverhill MCAS Scores

On the Spring 2025 MCAS, Haverhill students underperformed the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Each percentage presented blow represents the percentage of students “meeting or exceeding expectations” for the district.

English Language Arts

• Elementary (Grades 3–5)
  • Haverhill: 29%
  • State: 40%
• Middle (Grades 6–8)
  • Haverhill: 27%
  • State: 43%
• High (Grade 10)
  • Haverhill: 28%
  • State: 51%

Math

• Elementary (Grades 3–5)
  • Haverhill: 32%
  • State: 42%
• Middle (Grades 6–8)
  • Haverhill: 27%
  • State: 39%
• High (Grade 10)
  • Haverhill: 25%
  • State: 45%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Higher Education

Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill Campus. Credit: Wavelengths.

For higher education, Northern Essex Community College has a campus in Haverhill. This public community college serves residents throughout the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire, providing opportunities for continuing education and workforce development.

UMass Lowell also has a Haverhill satellite campus located in the downtown waterfront area. The focus on this campus is business incubation, workforce development, and corporate education.

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Housing Stock

Haverhill is a medium-density city with a housing stock that mixes classic American architectural styles with ranch-style homes and even newer designs. Some of the historical styles you’ll find in the city include First Period, Georgian, Colonial, and Victorian architecture.

Haverhill also has several notable historical homes from the colonial era, many of which are owned privately and still used by families.

As of July 2026. the median sale price for a home in Haverhill ranges from abut $549,000 (realtor.com) to $556,705 (Zillow). Prices are up 2.1% over the past year, according to Zillow.

At that time, homes spent a median of 21 to 28 days before a sale.

(Status checked on August 20th, 2026)

Sources: Realtor.com, Zillow

Special Mortgage Financing Available

Special financing programs are available for eligible Haverhill buyers, though the town does not qualify for USDA loans.

Is Haverhill USDA Lendable?

No. Haverhill has no USDA-eligible areas, as it falls within the ineligible, urbanized zone on the USDA Rural Development eligibility map.

Source: USDA

Is the Town Eligible for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Financing?

Yes. Haverhill’s census-designated tract (FIPS 25009260200) is designated a Fannie Mae “High-Cost Area.” It is also designated as a “Low-Income Census Tract” and a “Minority Census Tract”.

Specifications:

• 100% Area Median Income: $155,000
• 120% AMI threshold used for the high-cost first-time-homebuyer LLPA waiver: $186,000
• 80% AMI/HomeReady threshold for repeat buyers: $124,000

Conforming loan limits for Essex County run from $962,550 for a single-unit property up to $1,851,100 for a four-unit property.

Source: Fannie Mae

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Nightlife

While Haverhill may not have the bustling nightlife scene of larger cities, it offers a selection of local bars, pubs, and entertainment venues. 

Some popular spots include The Peddler’s Daughter, The Tap Brewing Company, and Wicked Axe, a popular sports club, bar, and eatery where patrons can enjoy an axe-throwing session with one of the bar’s highly skilled experts.

Credit: Boston.com, Courtesy of Wicked Axe

The Hidden Pig is another popular bar and eatery in town. It includes outdoor seating and sometimes has live music. It’s also a great spot for brunch!

If you’re looking for a cozy sports bar-style evening, you could also check out Mr. Mike’s Restaurant. It has a comfortable lounge for the evening crowd, homestyle food, and a new front patio if you’d like to sit outside.

If you’re interested in going to a dance club, attending a concert, or exploring other exciting nighttime activities, you can also take the MBTA line into Boston on the weekend.

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Dining Scene

Thanks to revitalization efforts that have been ongoing since the early 2000s, Haverhill boasts a diverse and growing casual dining scene, offering a variety of cuisines to satisfy different tastes. Downtown Haverhill is home to a vibrant collection of local eateries and bars on two separate “restaurant rows.” 

Credit: Joseph’s Trattoria

Some popular spots include:

• Benedetti’s Deli: A popular, family-owned spot for sandwiches and Italian specialties (As of August 2026, the owners have put Benedetti’s up for sale after 65 years in business).
• Bradford Seafood: A popular counter-service fish and seafood joint featuring fried dishes and Greek cuisine.
• Butch’s Uptown: A family-run restaurant featuring traditional American food, seafood, and Italian fare.
• Jospeh’s Trattoria Downtown: A beloved family-owned Italian restaurant that also features delicious baked goods.
• Kobe Buddha House: An Asian fusion restaurant featuring Hibachi-style meals, sushi, and other popular Asian dishes.
• Wicked Big Cafe: A local favorite for breakfast and lunch, offering creative sandwiches and coffee drinks.

For those looking for quick bites, Haverhill also has familiar chains like Chipotle, Panera, and Five Guys. Whether you’re in the mood for pub fare, international cuisine, or a quick sandwich, Haverhill’s restaurant scene offers a range of options to explore and enjoy.

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Cell Phone Reception

Major cellular networks like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all provide coverage in Haverhill. According to Best Neighborhood, 100% of Haverhill’s land area is covered by some kind of wireless network and 5G reception covers up to 99.96% of the residences in the city.

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Sports

Haverhill offers various recreational sports opportunities for residents. The city itself has several sports programs for both children and adults. 

If you’re a parent living in Haverhill, you’ve probably heard of the Haverhill Hillies. That’s the name of the official athletic teams representing Haverhill High School. The Hillies compete in various interscholastic sports, including basketball, football, soccer, and track and field, contributing to the city’s rich sporting tradition.

Haverhill Youth Soccer is a prominent organization promoting soccer to younger athletes in the community. The organization provides opportunities for children from tots to teens, with divisions ranging from introductory programs to competitive travel teams.

For adults, Haverhill provides numerous opportunities to stay active and competitive. These include softball leagues, fitness classes, and the recent addition of a pickleball league that has gained popularity among residents.

Haverhill is also home to parks and facilities for activities like baseball, soccer, and basketball.

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Coolest Coffee Shop

Image Source: George Asimellis on Google Maps

Drop Cafe

Drop Cafe is a popular specialty Greek coffee shop located at 781 River Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts. It’s owned by master barista Paris Kyriakou, who has more than thirty years of experience in the coffee industry internationally.

This modern and cozy café offers expertly crafted espresso drinks, paninis, wraps, Greek specialties, and house-made pastries.

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Walkability

According to walkscore.com, The greater Haverhill area has an average Walk Score of 41. That means Haverhill is mostly car-dependent, as you’ll need to drive to conduct most errands if you live in the city. 

The exception is downtown Haverhill, which is considered a “Walker’s Paradise” with a score of 92. If you want to spend the day downtown, you could find parking or be dropped off, then spend the entire day walking.

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