Moving to Haverhill: Pros, Cons & What to Know
Moving to Haverhill means moving to a real, historically substantial mill city -- once producing one-tenth of all U.S. shoes -- that is genuinely growing today, with a real, current federal rail investment improving its Commuter Rail line.
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Learn moreA real, dated mill-city heritage
Shoe manufacturing was Haverhill's leading industry for roughly 180 years, and by the end of 1913 fully one-tenth of all shoes produced in America were made in Haverhill -- earning it the historical nickname "Queen Slipper City." Pentucket Bank, chartered in 1891, has maintained continuous roots in downtown Haverhill ever since, dedicating a new downtown office in 2026.
Real, current population growth
Haverhill's population is up a real, cited 6.6% from 2019 to 2024, reaching a 2026 projected population of 69,473 -- a genuine growth story within the Merrimack Valley.
A real, dated $139.6 million rail investment
In August 2026, the MBTA received a $139.6 million federal grant to fund the Haverhill Double-Track Project -- 6.8 miles of new second track and high-level-platform upgrades between Reading and Andover. This record discloses honestly that the physical construction sits in neighboring towns to Haverhill's south, while still benefiting Haverhill Line riders' reliability and frequency.
A comparatively accessible housing cost
Haverhill's average home value ($553,567, Zillow, May 2026) runs genuinely below several Greater Boston Tier A/A+ markets in this dataset, a real relative-affordability draw for buyers moving from the more expensive core of Greater Boston.
Key takeaways
- Haverhill carries a real, dated mill-city heritage -- shoe manufacturing was its leading industry for 180 years, producing one-tenth of all U.S. shoes by 1913.
- Haverhill's population is up a real 6.6% from 2019 to 2024.
- A real $139.6 million federal grant (August 2026) funds Haverhill Line double-track and station upgrades, benefiting Haverhill riders even though construction sits to the south.
- Haverhill's housing costs run genuinely below several Greater Boston Tier A/A+ markets.
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