Population 10,623 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Essex County
Household size in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Essex County are small: just 2.35 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. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.41, as it has nationally.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.9, Essex County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 43.7 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Essex County is older than at least four in five Virginia counties.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.8% of households in Essex County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 6.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Essex County rent their homes (28.3%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 51.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.1% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Essex County: 21.8% of homes are empty, 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 has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Essex County are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $731 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $790 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $857 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,056 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$325 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Essex County costs $1,056 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $325 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the north.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.7% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Essex County: 16.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.3% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.3% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.4% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.3% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Essex County never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Essex County has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Virginia 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 | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Essex County runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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 | 2.35 | 47.9 | 7.8% | 28.3% | 21.8% | 1980 | $1,056 | 16.8% | 84.3% | 3.5% |
| Richmond County | 2.38 | 44.1 | 9.2% | 25.3% | 16.4% | 1979 | $1,038 | 16.4% | 81.6% | 2.0% |
| Northumberland County | 2.21 | 56.0 | 9.7% | 13.9% | 35.7% | 1987 | $917 | 32.9% | 89.0% | 3.9% |
| Caroline County | 2.66 | 39.7 | 14.9% | 17.7% | 6.9% | 1991 | $1,417 | 21.6% | 89.2% | 4.8% |
| Louisa County | 2.60 | 44.9 | 10.1% | 17.8% | 14.8% | 1995 | $1,329 | 29.6% | 90.0% | 5.7% |
| Fluvanna County | 2.65 | 44.8 | 7.8% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 1994 | $1,517 | 37.5% | 93.6% | 4.2% |
| Charlottesville City | 2.17 | 34.7 | 9.4% | 55.8% | 9.4% | 1971 | $1,595 | 62.5% | 93.4% | 4.0% |
| Albemarle County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 9.7% | 34.1% | 7.7% | 1991 | $1,734 | 61.3% | 94.0% | 3.3% |
| Nelson County | 2.40 | 49.2 | 5.7% | 20.3% | 25.6% | 1984 | $919 | 36.2% | 90.4% | 3.0% |
| Waynesboro City | 2.32 | 38.8 | 13.0% | 40.1% | 8.3% | 1973 | $1,105 | 26.4% | 89.5% | 4.9% |
| Bath County | 2.16 | 52.2 | 9.7% | 28.7% | 43.0% | 1974 | $653 | 16.4% | 84.6% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Crawford County, WI · Southampton County, VA · Socorro County, NM · Smith County, TN · Simpson County, KY · DeKalb County, TN · Dallas County, MO · Cuming County, NE · Cumberland County, KY · Cumberland County, IL
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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