Essex County, MA

County

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2021 Population

804,598

2.23% 1-year growth

US Senator

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ed Markey

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

40.8

0.244% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

9.86%

2.75% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$86,684

5.42% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$462,900

6.02% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

419,836

2.51% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Essex County, MA had a population of 805k people with a median age of 40.8 and a median household income of $86,684. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Essex County, MA grew from 787,038 to 804,598, a 2.23% increase and its median household income grew from $82,225 to $86,684, a 5.42% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Essex County, MA are White (Non-Hispanic) (68%), Other (Hispanic) (9.35%), White (Hispanic) (7.47%), Two+ (Hispanic) (4.01%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (3.37%).

None of the households in Essex County, MA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

92.1% of the residents in Essex County, MA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Essex County, MA are Salem State University (1,972 degrees awarded in 2021), Merrimack College (166850) (1,577 degrees), and Endicott College (1,343 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Essex County, MA was $462,900, and the homeownership rate was 63.6%.

Most people in Essex County, MA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Essex County, MA was 2 cars per household.

Essex County, MA borders Middlesex County, MA, Suffolk County, MA, Hillsborough County, NH, and Rockingham County, NH.

About the photo: Whale watching in Gloucester

Photo by Michelle Callahan

United States Massachusetts Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Population & Diversity

Essex County, MA is home to a population of 805k people, from which 92.1% are citizens. As of 2021, 18% of Essex County, MA residents were born outside of the country (145k people).

In 2021, there were 7.27 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (547k people) in Essex County, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 75.2k Other (Hispanic) and 60.1k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.1%

2021 Citizenship

92.4%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 92.1% of Essex County, MA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Essex County, MA was 92.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Essex County, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Essex County, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
547k ± 1.28k
Other (Hispanic)
75.2k ± 3.01k
White (Hispanic)
60.1k ± 2.78k

22.2%

Hispanic Population

178k people

22.2% of the people in Essex County, MA are hispanic (178k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Essex County, MA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Most Common Origin

China
102,889 ± 7,817 people
Dominican Republic
98,796 ± 7,662 people
Brazil
87,929 ± 7,234 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was China, the natal country of 102,889 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 98,796 and Brazil with 87,929.

Foreign-Born Population

18%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

145k people

17.6%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

138k people

As of 2021, 18% of Essex County, MA residents (145k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Essex County, MA was 17.6%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Essex County, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
10,164 ± 668
Gulf War (2001-)
4,731 ± 605
Gulf War (1990s)
3,335 ± 523

Essex County, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.15 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Essex County, MA employs 420k people. The largest industries in Essex County, MA are Health Care & Social Assistance (66,811 people), Retail Trade (45,925 people), and Manufacturing (44,979 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($106,818), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($87,306), and Utilities ($83,945).

Males in Massachusetts have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $74,737. The income inequality in Massachusetts (measured using the Gini index) is 0.48, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

420k

2021 Value

± 5,268

2.51%

1 Year growth

± 1.73%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Essex County, MA grew at a rate of 2.51%, from 410k employees to 420k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Essex County, MA, are Management Occupations (53,403 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (43,326 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (41,534 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Essex County, MA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Massachusetts (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

420k

2021 Value

± 5,268

2.51%

1 Year growth

± 1.73%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Essex County, MA grew at a rate of 2.51%, from 410k employees to 420k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Essex County, MA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (66,811 people), Retail Trade (45,925 people), and Manufacturing (44,979 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Essex County, MA, though some of these residents may live in Essex County, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$59,889

Median earning men ± $1,212

$40,768

Median earning women ± $926

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($96,254), Public Administration ($87,613), and Information ($86,151).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Information ($65,463), Public Administration ($63,957), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($59,145).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Massachusetts. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Massachusetts.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

7,605
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
4,777
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services
3,831
Manufacturing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$14.7M
Manufacturing
$8.85M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$3.26M
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Massachusetts product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $37.1B, followed by Mixed freight ($29.7B) and Electronics ($28.8B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Massachusetts products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Massachusetts.

$296B

2020 Value in Massachusetts

$627B

Projected 2050 Value in Massachusetts

112% growth

In 2020, total outbound Massachusetts trade was $296B. This is expected to increase 112% to $627B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Massachusetts trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Most Common Trade Partners

New York
$28.8B
New Hampshire
$20.3B
Connecticut
$14.2B

In 2020, the top outbound Massachusetts domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New York with $28.8B, followed by New Hampshire with $20.3B and Connecticut and $14.2B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Massachusetts shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Essex County, MA went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 62.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.1%), followed by Other (1.7%).

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing the state of Massachusetts. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (62.9%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (34.1%)
Republican Party
Other (1.7%)
Green and Other Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Essex County, MA went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 62.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (34.1%), followed by Other (1.7%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Essex County, MA for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Ed Markey

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on July 16, 2013
Elected to the seat to succeed Mo Cowan, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing Massachusetts.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Massachusetts over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Massachusetts

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Massachusetts have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Essex County, MA awarded 8,165 degrees. The student population of Essex County, MA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 11,563 male students and 19,090 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Essex County, MA are White (5,409 and 68.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (1,251 and 15.8%), Black or African American (497 and 6.27%), and Unknown (317 and 4%).

The largest universities in Essex County, MA by number of degrees awarded are Salem State University (1,972 and 24.2%), Merrimack College (166850) (1,577 and 19.3%), and Endicott College (1,343 and 16.4%).

The most popular majors in Essex County, MA are General Business Administration & Management (494 and 6.05%), Truck, Bus, & Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor (476 and 5.83%), and Registered Nursing (345 and 4.23%).

The median tuition costs in Essex County, MA are $34,800 for private four year colleges, and $910 and $7,050 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Essex County, MA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 82.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 15.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 30,653 (37.7% men and 62.3% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 30,653 students enrolled in Essex County, MA, 37.7% men and 62.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 18,595 records, of which 63.1% were women and 36.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
266 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
233 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
286 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Essex County, MA was Registered Nursing with 266 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Essex County, MA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Salem State University
1,972 degrees awarded
Merrimack College (166850)
1,577 degrees awarded
Endicott College
1,343 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Salem State University with 1,972 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 3,133 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Essex County, MA, which is 0.623 times less than the 5,032 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 5,409 degrees mean that there were 4.32 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 1,251 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($34,800) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 4-year or above ($10,765) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($1,300) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Measure

In 2021, 1.06% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.14% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (1.35M), Bachelors Degree (1.33M), and Some college (1.01M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Essex County, MA was $462,900 in 2021, which is 1.89 times larger than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $436,600 to $462,900, a 6.02% increase. The homeownership rate in Essex County, MA is 63.6%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Essex County, MA have an average commute time of 29.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Essex County, MA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Essex County, MA is $86,684. In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Essex County, MA was Census Tract 2543.01 with a value of $227,105, followed by Census Tract 2532.05 and Census Tract 2031, with respective values of $225,804 and $205,938.

In 2022, 19.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Essex County, MA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 0.826%.

Housing

Property

$462,900

Median Property Value 2021

±$3,659

$195,868

Median Property Taxes

±$2,790

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Essex County, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Essex County, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

63.6%

Homeownership

2021

62.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 63.6% of the housing units in Essex County, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 63.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Essex County, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 2543.01
Census Tract 2532.05
Census Tract 2031

In 2021, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Essex County, MA was Census Tract 2543.01 with a value of $227,105, followed by Census Tract 2532.05 and Census Tract 2031, with respective values of $225,804 and $205,938.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Essex County, MA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$86,684

Median Household Income

± $1,333

308k

Number of Households

± 4,354

In 2021, the median household income of the 308k households in Essex County, MA grew to $86,684 from the previous year's value of $82,225.

The following chart displays the households in Essex County, MA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Essex County, MA is from Massachusetts.

0.48

2021 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.48

2020 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2021, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.48 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0427% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Massachusetts in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Massachusetts across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (72%)
Worked At Home (10.3%)
Carpooled (7.98%)

In 2021, 72% of workers in Essex County, MA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.3%) and those who carpooled to work (7.98%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

29.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Essex County, MA have a longer commute time (29.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 4.02% of the workforce in Essex County, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Essex County, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Essex County, MA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Essex County, MA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2022, 19.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Essex County, MA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 0.826%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

9.86% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Essex County, MA (77.7k out of 788k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Essex County, MA is White, followed by Hispanic and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2022, 11.2% of the children was living in poverty in Essex County, MA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 5.9%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 368 in Essex County, MA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 8.37 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

97% of the population of Essex County, MA has health coverage, with 51.2% on employee plans, 20.9% on Medicaid, 11.4% on Medicare, 12.9% on non-group plans, and 0.606% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Essex County, MA see 1384 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.22% increase from the previous year (1354 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1090 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 161 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,384 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Essex County, MA

Primary care physicians in Essex County, MA see an average of 1,384 patients per year. This represents a 2.22% increase from the previous year (1,354 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Essex County, MA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23% under 18 years, 20% between 18 and 34 years, 40.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

3.02%

Uninsured

51.2%

Employer Coverage

20.9%

Medicaid

11.4%

Medicare

12.9%

Non-Group

0.606%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Essex County, MA grew by 1.12% from 2.98% to 3.02%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Essex County, MA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 29.3 in Essex County, MA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Essex County, MA.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 26.4% in Essex County, MA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Essex County, MA.

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