State rank#3 of 14
Smallest county813,054 residentsMiddlesex County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 25009
Essex County, Massachusetts
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population813,054
Household income$101,883
Unemployment4.1%
Life expectancy79.7 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Essex County has 813,054 residents and ranks #3 by population among Massachusetts county equivalents. Median household income is $101,883. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.1%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Massachusetts
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Essex County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Essex County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $619,100 median home value and $1,756/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $101,883, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Essex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, unemployment rate, and life expectancy. College attainment is 43% and life expectancy is 79.7 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $101,883, rank #6 of 14 available Massachusetts counties.
- Unemployment rate: 4.1%, rank #7 of 14 available Massachusetts counties.
- Life expectancy: 79.7 years, rank #7 of 14 available Massachusetts counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 3.5%, rank #12 of 14; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 14.8%, rank #11 of 14; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,756/mo, rank #10 of 14; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Massachusetts
Rank and range use only counties in Massachusetts with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$101,883
$101,883; above the state county median of $95,785.
State rank #6 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$619,100
$619,100; above the state county median of $587,550.
State rank #8 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,756/mo
$1,756/mo; above the state county median of $1,552/mo.
State rank #10 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.1%
4.1%; at the state county median of 4.1%.
State rank #7 of 14 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
43%
43%; below the state county median of 45.6%.
State rank #8 of 14 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.7 years
79.7 years; above the state county median of 79.6 years.
State rank #7 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
14.8%
14.8%; above the state county median of 13.6%.
State rank #11 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
3.5%
3.5%; above the state county median of 3%.
State rank #12 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,350 residents
1 per 1,350 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,231 residents.
State rank #8 of 14 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 146 residents
1 per 146 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 143 residents.
State rank #8 of 14 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Essex County FAQ
Is Essex County a good place to live?
Essex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, unemployment rate, and life expectancy. College attainment is 43% and life expectancy is 79.7 years.
What should I know before moving to Essex County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $619,100 median home value and $1,756/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $101,883, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Essex County?
Essex County has 813,054 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Essex County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 25009; the parent state FIPS is 25.
What is the median household income in Essex County?
The ACS median household income is $101,883.
How much does housing cost in Essex County?
Housing benchmarks are $619,100 median home value and $1,756/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $101,883, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Essex County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.1%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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