Population 36,973 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Essex County
Household size in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.14 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Essex County are small: just 2.14 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.25 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few New York counties have smaller households: only three of 62.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.6 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.5 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.7 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.1 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.7, Essex County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.6, mirroring the country. Only one other New York county is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Essex County (10.1%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Essex County
Renters in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Essex County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (53.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.7% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.0% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 32.0% of the housing in Essex County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Essex County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Still, homes here are newer than in New York as a whole, where the median home dates to 1961. The median year built has moved up from 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $690 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $776 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $851 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,006 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$316 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in Essex County runs $1,006 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $316 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Essex County
Bachelor's degrees in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.6% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.2% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Essex County as nationally: 33.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in New York as a whole (39.8%). The share with a degree has risen 7.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.3% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Essex County is above the national rate: 92.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Essex County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of New York counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Essex County runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Essex County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County | 2.14 | 49.7 | 10.1% | 22.7% | 32.0% | 1965 | $1,006 | 33.2% | 92.9% | 4.0% |
| Addison County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 5.7% | 20.7% | 14.1% | 1976 | $1,321 | 46.3% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Washington County | 2.29 | 44.5 | 9.2% | 26.3% | 12.3% | 1968 | $1,314 | 47.7% | 96.1% | 2.8% |
| Jefferson County | 2.40 | 37.2 | 10.8% | 45.3% | 15.2% | 1974 | $1,151 | 26.5% | 92.6% | 6.3% |
| Oxford County | 2.45 | 47.1 | 8.6% | 19.4% | 28.2% | 1974 | $912 | 23.4% | 92.8% | 4.2% |
| Androscoggin County | 2.41 | 40.7 | 11.4% | 32.1% | 8.3% | 1970 | $1,064 | 23.6% | 92.9% | 4.6% |
| Lincoln County | 2.18 | 50.4 | 6.9% | 17.5% | 25.2% | 1978 | $1,034 | 39.6% | 94.9% | 3.2% |
| Knox County | 2.16 | 49.7 | 7.3% | 21.3% | 22.6% | 1972 | $1,245 | 40.5% | 95.2% | 3.5% |
| Arenac County | 2.29 | 49.5 | 7.9% | 13.8% | 27.3% | 1977 | $750 | 16.1% | 88.3% | 6.3% |
| Ogemaw County | 2.22 | 49.8 | 9.8% | 16.3% | 33.5% | 1976 | $819 | 17.2% | 90.8% | 6.7% |
| Manitowoc County | 2.30 | 45.7 | 9.8% | 22.9% | 8.4% | 1965 | $829 | 22.7% | 92.1% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Scotts Bluff County, NE · Cortland County, NY · Davie County, NC · DeKalb County, IN · Dodge County, NE · Douglas County, MN · Douglas County, WI · Fajardo Municipio, PR · Fayette County, OH · Scott County, MS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Essex County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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