Skip to main content

Essex County, Massachusetts Demographics 2026

Essex County, Massachusetts has a population of 807,258, the 3rd most populous county in Massachusetts. The median household income is $99,431 and the median home value is $584,000. The poverty rate is 9.4%.

Essex County Quick Facts

Population 807,258
Median Household Income $99,431
Median Home Value $584,000
Poverty Rate 9.4%
Unemployment Rate 5.1%
Median Age 41.1 years
Homeownership Rate 64.0%
Affordability Ratio 5.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 42.3%
High School Graduation 90.1%
Cities/Places 10
Population 807,258 3rd of 14
Median Income $99,431 2% lower state
Poverty Rate 9.4%
Unemployment 5.1%

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1% | National: 5.2%
67.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.0%
Renter 36.0%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

51out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Essex County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Lynn city100,905$74,71513.7%$472,600
Lawrence city88,297$57,90318.2%$393,500
Haverhill city67,387$87,67510.6%$426,900
Peabody city54,180$95,2786.5%$566,200
Methuen Town city53,043$103,2708.2%$472,200
Salem city44,241$85,13713.7%$497,400
Beverly city42,408$103,73910.0%$621,900
Gloucester city29,862$87,89810.7%$587,800
Newburyport city18,444$144,2595.1%$792,400
Amesbury Town city17,277$100,5997.0%$475,400

Explore Massachusetts Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Essex County is located in Massachusetts with a total population of 807,258. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 14 in Massachusetts. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Essex County is 41.1 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Essex County is $99,431. This is 2% lower than the state median of $101,341. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $584,000. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $525,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Essex County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (23.2% vs 12.9%). The Asian population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

42.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 46.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.1%. Notably, 17.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Essex County, Massachusetts?

Essex County has a population of 807,258, making it the 3rd most populous county in Massachusetts.

What is the median income in Essex County?

The median household income in Essex County is $99,431 with a poverty rate of 9.4%.

How many cities are in Essex County, Massachusetts?

Essex County contains 10 Census-designated places.