Essex County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Essex County is located in Virginia with a total population of 10,604. It is the 115th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Essex County is 47.1 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Essex County is $56,481. This is 38% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.5%. This is 56% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $228,600. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Essex County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 37.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (37.4% vs 18.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.7%.