Essex County, MA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 796,064 | 6,906,117 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 961.1 | 654.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.65% | 0.50% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.0 | 37.1 |
| Households | 311,545 | 2,760,541 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Essex County grew by 5.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 806,905 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Essex County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $99,515 | $101,501 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.95% | 5.21% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Essex County is about 2% lower than in Massachusetts.
Housing
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $486,522 | $478,681 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,673 | $1,687 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.0% | 62.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Essex County is about 24.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,673 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Essex County spend about 47 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 196 hours, about 8.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 23.5 | 25.7 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 46.9 | 51.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 196 | 214 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,062 | $6,632 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 16.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 18,585 | 14,741 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,726 | 2,164 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Massachusetts:
Nantucket County (13.8 min), Dukes County (15.4 min), Berkshire County (16.7 min).
Slowest:
Norfolk County (31.2 min), Suffolk County (30.4 min), Plymouth County (28.6 min).
The average commute time in Essex County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 26 minutes in Massachusetts.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Essex County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.8% | 42.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.54 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Massachusetts:
Middlesex County (0.5), Norfolk County (0.4), Nantucket County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hampden County (0.3), Bristol County (0.3), Berkshire County (0.3).
Health
Essex County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.6 | 80.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.8% | 11.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 13.8% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Massachusetts:
Middlesex County (0.8), Hampshire County (0.8), Norfolk County (0.8).
Lowest:
Hampden County (0.8), Bristol County (0.8), Worcester County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Essex County, Massachusetts.
What is the population of Essex County, Massachusetts?
The population of Essex County, Massachusetts is 796,064, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Essex County, Massachusetts?
The population density of Essex County, Massachusetts is 961.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Essex County, Massachusetts?
The median household income in Essex County, Massachusetts is $99,515, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Essex County, Massachusetts?
The median home price in Essex County, Massachusetts is $486,522, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Essex County, Massachusetts?
The unemployment rate in Essex County, Massachusetts is 5.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.