Essex, Maryland Income Statistics
Essex Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Essex Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Essex | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,625 | $103,916 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,911 | $75,715 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 20.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 20.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Essex is about 35% lower than in Maryland. Income has been growing slower in Essex (3.9%/yr) than in Maryland (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Essex earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Maryland average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Essex, Maryland grew by 39.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,625 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Essex
| Metric | Essex | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.514 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,812 | $84,327 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,550 | $72,201 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.6% | 14.4% | 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, it is 0.514, lower than Maryland's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in Essex, Maryland. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $359,170 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, Maryland has narrowed from about 22% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2016, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $276 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Essex | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.5% | 19.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 1,318 people are unemployed in Essex, Maryland.
The average commute time in Essex is 26 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in Maryland.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Essex, Maryland has fallen from 9.5% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.6% in 2015 and fell as low as 5.4% in 2023.
Essex, MD Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Essex, MD is the 2nd largest of the 4 cities compared here, 39,226 residents against a local median of 29,130. The measure that sets Essex, MD apart most is median household income: $67,625, 18% below the local median of $82,553. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread $18,227 on median household income, so Essex, MD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Essex, MD has the 3rd highest median household income of the 4 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, MD | 39,226 | $67,625 #3/4 | 3.9%/yr #3/4 | 6.3% #2/4 | 0.514 #1/4 |
| Middle River, MD | 29,130 | $82,553 | 4.3%/yr | 4.3% | 0.553 |
| Dundalk, MD | 63,263 | $66,657 | 3.7%/yr | 6.9% | 0.545 |
| Rosedale, MD | 21,262 | $84,885 | 4.6%/yr | 6.6% | 0.537 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Essex, Maryland has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Maryland, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Essex, Maryland.
How Wealthy Is Essex, Maryland?
Essex has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,625, about 35% lower than the Maryland average of $103,916.
Are incomes growing in Essex, Maryland?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Essex, Maryland rose 40%, from $48,327 to $67,625. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Maryland as a whole: +40% against +49%.
What was the median household income in Essex in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Essex, Maryland was $68,930, up 3% from $67,225 in 2022. The Maryland median that year was $101,974.
What was the median household income in Essex in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Essex, Maryland was $59,259. By 2024 it had risen 14% to $67,625.
Is unemployment high in Essex, Maryland?
Unemployment in Essex, Maryland is 6.3%, well above the Maryland rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Essex, Maryland?
The Gini coefficient in Essex is 0.514. 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, Maryland?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Essex, Maryland has narrowed from about 22% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2016, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $276 since 2009.
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