Essex County, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Essex County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Essex County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $102,063 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $75,895 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.9% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 21.0% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Essex County is about 2% lower than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing slower in Essex County (4.7%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 19% of adults in Essex County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Essex County, Massachusetts grew by 57.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $102,063 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Essex County
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $87,875 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $70,150 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.2% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Essex County, it is 0.527, about the same as Massachusetts's 0.531, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Essex County, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $620,375 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Essex County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,608 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Essex County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 16.4% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 22,897 people are unemployed in Essex County, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Essex County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Essex County, Massachusetts has fallen from 7.7% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2019.
Essex County, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Essex County, MA is typical in size for this group, 810,585 residents against a local median of 729,949, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Essex County, MA an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 14% below the local median at $102,063 against $118,478. Essex County, MA has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 810,585 | $102,063 #5/6 | 4.7%/yr #5/6 | 5.1% #5/6 | 0.527 #5/6 |
| Suffolk County, MA | 779,263 | $95,719 | 6.5%/yr | 6.3% | 0.551 |
| Rockingham County, NH | 319,036 | $118,478 | 4.6%/yr | 3.5% | 0.495 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,636,094 | $131,269 | 4.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.515 |
| Norfolk County, MA | 729,949 | $131,149 | 4.7%/yr | 4.9% | 0.513 |
| Plymouth County, MA | 534,586 | $114,939 | 4.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.520 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Essex County, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Massachusetts, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Essex County, Massachusetts.
How Wealthy Is Essex County, Massachusetts?
Essex County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $102,063, about 2% lower than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
How fast is household income rising in Essex County, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Essex County, Massachusetts rose 58%, from $64,716 to $102,063. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +58% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Essex County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Essex County, Massachusetts was $99,473, up 5% from $94,706 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Essex County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Essex County, Massachusetts was $83,019. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $102,063.
What is the Gini coefficient in Essex County, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Essex County is 0.527. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Essex County, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Essex County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 25% to 20% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,608 since 2009.
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