State rank#3 of 21
Smallest county863,002 residentsBergen County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 34013
Essex County, New Jersey
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population863,002
Household income$80,789
Unemployment5.5%
Life expectancy77.7 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Essex County has 863,002 residents and ranks #3 by population among New Jersey county equivalents. Median household income is $80,789. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.5%. Its clearest relative strength is median gross rent. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within New Jersey
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 gross rent.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $524,100 median home value and $1,531/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $80,789, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Essex County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median gross rent, mental health access, and primary care access. College attainment is 39.1% and life expectancy is 77.7 years.
Potential advantages
- Median gross rent: $1,531/mo, rank #7 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 354 residents, rank #9 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,325 residents, rank #10 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 10.6%, rank #19 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $80,789, rank #18 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 5.5%, rank #17 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within New Jersey
Rank and range use only counties in New Jersey with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$80,789
$80,789; below the state county median of $100,869.
State rank #18 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$524,100
$524,100; above the state county median of $434,600.
State rank #15 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,531/mo
$1,531/mo; below the state county median of $1,623/mo.
State rank #7 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
5.5%
5.5%; above the state county median of 4.4%.
State rank #17 of 21 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
39.1%
39.1%; at the state county median of 39.1%.
State rank #11 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
77.7 years
77.7 years; below the state county median of 78.4 years.
State rank #15 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
16.5%
16.5%; above the state county median of 14.8%.
State rank #17 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
10.6%
10.6%; above the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #19 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,325 residents
1 per 1,325 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,396 residents.
State rank #10 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 354 residents
1 per 354 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 393 residents.
State rank #9 of 21 · 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 gross rent, mental health access, and primary care access. College attainment is 39.1% and life expectancy is 77.7 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 $524,100 median home value and $1,531/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $80,789, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Essex County?
Essex County has 863,002 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Essex County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 34013; the parent state FIPS is 34.
What is the median household income in Essex County?
The ACS median household income is $80,789.
How much does housing cost in Essex County?
Housing benchmarks are $524,100 median home value and $1,531/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $80,789, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Essex County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.5%.
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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