North Shore

Based on the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates, approximately 11,636 veterans live in the 15 North Shore cities and towns, including 706 women veterans. This page includes local event listings and directories of veterans’ services; collaboratives; posts and auxiliaries; VA-accredited representatives, agents, and attorneys; and elder services, as well as veterans census data for the North Shore.

submit event

When you submit events, use the greater-boston and north-shore tags so they automatically show up on the North Shore and Northeast regional pages. The listing below has links to see events at the city and town level. As long as you include the city or town where your event is taking place within the event description, it will appear in the relevant local listing.

Local Event Listings

Local Recovery Meetings

 
 

The mission of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) is to act as the primary advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth’s veterans. The Office provides outreach and support through various programs. EOVS offers assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses through the MassVets Financial Benefits Program, administered by local veterans’ services.

Local Veterans’ Services

District Veterans’ Services

Veterans may use the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator to see what they may qualify for and contact their local veterans’ services office to apply. MGL Chapter 115 requires each town/city have a veterans’ agent to administer these benefits, but two or more contiguous towns can also appoint someone to serve as veterans’ agent and form Veterans’ Services Districts. Many municipal veterans’ services office also have VA-accredited staff to assist with federal benefit claims.

 

Office Hours for Veterans Benefits

 

VA-accredited Representatives, Agents & Attorneys

The directory below includes VA-accredited representatives, agents, and attorneys based in cities and towns in the North Shore from the VA Office of the General Counsel’s Accreditation Search Tool, updated on a weekly basis. Accreditation ensures VA claimants receive qualified assistance aligned with VA Standards of Conduct. Attorney listings also include available official state bar data, license status, registration dates, and disciplinary history, updated on a monthly basis.

North Shore Veterans Collaborative

    • Area providers join North Shore Veterans Collaborative summits to learn about resources available for veterans of all eras in the North Shore area and to hear from speakers on a variety of veteran-related topics. Meetings were held quarterly at sites throughout the North Shore before the pandemic. NSVC is still operating, but is currently on a hiatus. Email Tiffany Lever with any questions.

 
 

North Shore Veterans Posts & Auxiliaries

The Veterans Posts and Auxiliaries directory includes information about the VFW, American Legion, and AMVETS Posts based in North Shore cities and towns, as well as information about their auxiliaries and other affiliates.

Posts

Auxiliaries

North Shore VA Healthcare Facilities

North Shore veterans are served by the VA Bedford Healthcare System. The Gloucester outpatient clinic is located in the area. Anyone who has served in the military is encouraged to apply to determine their eligibility and Priority Group. Some veterans are exempt from co-pays.

Elder Services in the North Shore

Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) are private, non-profit agencies established under MGL Chapter 19A. ASAPs provide direct and protective services, including information and referrals; interdisciplinary case management; intake and assessment; developing, implementing, and monitoring service plans; reassessing needs; and investigating reports of elder abuse and neglect.

MassOptions is a service of the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) that can also help older adults, people with disabilities, and family members or caregivers identify aging and disability services and connect to those that can meet their needs. Call (800) 243-4636 or click here to complete a referral.

Housing Advisory Council

Established through Executive Orders filed in conjunction with the Affordable Homes Act, the Housing Advisory Council and Commission on Unlocking Housing Production is bringing together a broad range of stakeholders from across Massachusetts to advise the Healey-Driscoll administration on strategies to address the state’s housing challenges. A regional listening session was held in April 2024 (see the data below). If you missed them, you can still provide feedback here.

 
 

North Shore Veterans Census Data

Based on the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates, approximately 11,636 veterans live in the 15 North Shore cities and towns covered by this field guide. Veterans make up about 4.8 percent of civilian adults age 18 and older, or 3.9 percent of the total population.

Women account for approximately 6.1 percent of veterans in the area (706). Around 66 percent of veterans overall are age 65 or older (7,717), compared with 42 percent of women veterans (295). Around 77 percent of veterans served during a wartime period (8,939). An estimated 120 people are currently serving in the Armed Forces, with a 90 percent margin of error of ±70. The estimate for women serving is 29 ±42.

Between the 2021 and 2024 ACS estimates, the estimated veteran population decreased by 9.8 percent, from 12,895 to 11,636. The estimated number of women veterans increased by 5.7 percent, from 668 to 706.

These figures are based on responses to the American Community Survey. The 5-year estimates describe overlapping periods rather than individual years, and differences should be interpreted alongside their margins of error, especially for smaller population groups.

If you serve veterans and are trying to learn more about their demographics, you can explore the most recent ACS 5-year estimates (most reliable) from Census Reporter for cities and towns on the North Shore at the links below:

For broader context, age, disability, veteran status, and poverty are available for Essex County and Massachusetts using ACS 1-year estimates (most current). These 1-year figures are separate from the 5-year estimates used for this page.

Age, sex, and veteran status data are also available by race and Hispanic origin. The links below cover the same 15 cities and towns using ACS 5-year estimates, with whole-county data for Essex County for broader context. These county links are not North Shore regional totals. County releases vary by table and population group; check the release shown before making comparisons. Estimates for small groups can have substantial uncertainty; review the margins of error alongside them.

Hispanic or Latino includes people of any race. These categories overlap and should not be added together. ACS figures are estimates, and uncertainty can be substantial for small populations. Census Reporter includes margins of error alongside the data. These census links update as new releases become available; the figures presented here use the 2020–2024 5-year estimates. This page was updated in October 2026.

Cape Ann Area

The Cape Ann area includes Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport in the North Shore. Together, these four municipalities account for about 19 percent of North Shore veterans (2,173). Among Cape Ann veterans:

essex county

The other 11 North Shore municipalities (excluding Cape Ann) are Beverly, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody, Salem, Swampscott, Topsfield, and Wenham. They account for about 81 percent of North Shore veterans (9,463).

These summaries cover only the 15 North Shore municipalities in Essex County, including the Cape Ann subregion, not the whole county. Figures shown with ± include approximate 90 percent margins of error. Margins of error for combined age or service categories are approximate.