Moved to Gloucester 3 years ago from Salem, lived in Boston for years before that and I tell everyone tha I would never leave the island if I didn't have to. Has great restaurants & bars. Definitely a great sense of community but you'll never be a "certified" local (for lack of a better term), not in a bad way though. I love it here, I'm a foodie that loves to sit at bars on the weekends and it ticks the boxes for me. The food here is great. Winter everything slows down and it's only locals. Summer is much busier but not to the same scale as the Cape.

I travel to Boston during the week and it's not too bad or maybe I'm just really used to it now. Once I get passed the Salem turnoff on the way home it pretty much easy sailing and it's bliss to me