Essex County, Vermont 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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C
Essex County Below averageLeast wealthy county in Vermont
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Essex County | Vermont Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,269 | $81,508 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,549 | $60,855 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.5% | 12.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Essex County is about 27% lower than in Vermont. Income has been growing faster in Essex County (5.3%/yr) than in Vermont (4.7%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Essex County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Vermont average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Essex County, Vermont grew by 48.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,269 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Essex County
| Metric | Essex County | Vermont Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.496 | 0.506 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,675 | $68,197 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,317 | $61,033 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.9% | 10.5% | 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 0.496, lower than Vermont's 0.506, 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 19% more than women's income in Essex County, Vermont. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $327,530 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, Vermont has narrowed from about 26% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 10% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $166 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Essex County | Vermont Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.1% | 16.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 135 people are unemployed in Essex County, Vermont.
The average commute time in Essex County is 23 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Vermont.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Essex County, Vermont has fallen from 9.3% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2019.
Essex County, VT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Essex County, VT is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,970 residents against a local median of 30,464. Where Essex County, VT breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 46% above the local median of 3.3% at 4.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $59,269 against a local median of $70,885, 16% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Essex County, VT reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 3.1% on unemployment, so Essex County, VT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Essex County, VT has the 5th lowest unemployment 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, VT | 5,970 | $59,269 #5/6 | 5.3%/yr #4/6 | 4.8% #5/6 | 0.496 #2/6 |
| Coos County, NH | 31,270 | $58,040 | 3.2%/yr | 4.3% | 0.516 |
| Caledonia County, VT | 30,464 | $70,885 | 5.3%/yr | 2.2% | 0.498 |
| Orleans County, VT | 27,611 | $70,432 | 6.1%/yr | 5.3% | 0.503 |
| Grafton County, NH | 92,112 | $89,036 | 5.4%/yr | 3.2% | 0.538 |
| Lamoille County, VT | 26,137 | $74,946 | 4.4%/yr | 3.3% | 0.471 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Essex County, Vermont has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Vermont, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Essex County, Vermont.
How Wealthy Is Essex County, Vermont?
Essex County 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 $59,269, about 27% lower than the Vermont average of $81,508.
How fast is household income rising in Essex County, Vermont?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Essex County, Vermont rose 48%, from $40,047 to $59,269. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Vermont as a whole: +48% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Essex County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Essex County, Vermont was $58,559, up 7% from $54,477 in 2022. The Vermont median that year was $78,241.
What was the median household income in Essex County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Essex County, Vermont was $47,516. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $59,269.
Is unemployment high in Essex County, Vermont?
Unemployment in Essex County, Vermont is 4.8%, well above the Vermont rate of 3.5%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Essex County, Vermont?
The Gini coefficient in Essex County is 0.496. 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, Vermont?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Essex County, Vermont has narrowed from about 26% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 10% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $166 since 2009.
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