Population 5,982 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Essex County
Household size in Essex County
| Period | Essex County | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.23 | 2.35 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.33 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.11 | 2.31 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Essex County is a place of small households, averaging 2.11 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.23, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Vermont county has smaller households.
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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7 | 40.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.1 | 42.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.8 | 43.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.0 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
Essex County skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 45.7, as it has nationally. No other Vermont 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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 9.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 8.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Essex County: 8.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Vermont as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 0.7 points from 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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 28.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 29.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 29.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −1.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Essex County is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 52.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.3% | 15.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 41.5% | 17.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 15.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 39.2% 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 up 1.7 points from 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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1967 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1973 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Essex County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The picture is much the same across Vermont. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $588 | $878 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $692 | $947 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $765 | $1,043 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $863 | $1,306 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$275 | +$428 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Essex County costs $863 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $275 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. No other Vermont county has lower rents.
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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.1% | 36.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 38.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 44.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +9.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Essex County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. No other Vermont county has a lower share of college graduates.
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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.6% | 90.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 91.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.6% | 92.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.9% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Essex County have finished high school as nationally: 89.9%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Vermont overall (94.8%). No other Vermont county has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 6.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 3.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Essex County runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Still, the rate is higher than in Vermont as a whole (3.5%). Unemployment is down 3.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | 2.11 | 50.0 | 8.6% | 17.6% | 39.2% | 1971 | $863 | 21.7% | 89.9% | 4.6% |
| Coos County | 2.09 | 49.1 | 8.6% | 25.8% | 24.2% | 1962 | $892 | 20.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Lamoille County | 2.16 | 43.1 | 12.3% | 27.1% | 14.9% | 1982 | $1,220 | 44.5% | 93.7% | 3.1% |
| Franklin County | 2.32 | 46.1 | 6.7% | 23.7% | 27.0% | 1974 | $810 | 33.2% | 94.0% | 5.3% |
| Grand Isle County | 2.38 | 49.9 | 4.6% | 10.1% | 38.7% | 1984 | $1,550 | 43.5% | 95.6% | 3.2% |
| Clinton County | 2.21 | 42.5 | 11.7% | 30.6% | 12.8% | 1974 | $1,006 | 27.8% | 88.9% | 4.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.21 | 42.2 | 13.0% | 27.5% | 19.6% | 1968 | $847 | 24.3% | 88.0% | 4.2% |
| St. Lawrence County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 11.4% | 28.1% | 18.7% | 1967 | $833 | 26.1% | 89.2% | 5.2% |
| Alcona County | 1.95 | 58.8 | 6.6% | 10.4% | 43.9% | 1975 | $892 | 21.2% | 92.9% | 4.4% |
| Oscoda County | 2.28 | 51.9 | 8.4% | 12.8% | 49.1% | 1974 | $798 | 15.7% | 85.6% | 8.1% |
| Crawford County | 2.15 | 49.9 | 10.0% | 20.4% | 31.4% | 1979 | $880 | 20.0% | 91.4% | 8.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Crawford County, MI · Sullivan County, MO · Sublette County, WY · Storey County, NV · Stonewall County, TX · Stone County, AR · Stewart County, TN · Sterling County, TX · Crockett County, TN · Crenshaw County, AL
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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