Essex County, MA

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Population

790,638

0.692% growth

Median Age

41.1


Median Household Income

$76,604

1.49% growth

Poverty Rate

10.9%


Number of Employees

411,557

0.666% growth

Median Property Value

$444,700

9.67% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2018, Essex County, MA had a population of 791k people with a median age of 41.1 and a median household income of $76,604. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Essex County, MA grew from 785,205 to 790,638, a 0.692% increase and its median household income grew from $75,480 to $76,604, a 1.49% increase.

The population of Essex County, MA is 68.9% White Alone, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 3.63% Asian Alone. N/A% of the people in Essex County, MA speak a non-English language, and 91.7% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Essex County, MA are Salem State University (2,194 degrees awarded in 2017), Merrimack College (1,203 degrees), and Endicott College (1,134 degrees).

The median property value in Essex County, MA is $444,700, and the homeownership rate is 62.8%. Most people in Essex County, MA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 29.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Essex County, MA is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Whale watching in Gloucester

Photo by Michelle Callahan

United StatesMassachusettsBoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Economy

The economy of Essex County, MA employs 412k people. The largest industries in Essex County, MA are Health Care & Social Assistance (63,796 people), Retail Trade (46,662 people), and Manufacturing (43,098 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($81,557), Finance & Insurance ($74,833), and Public Administration ($70,941).

Median household income in Essex County, MA is $76,604. Males in Essex County, MA have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $66,042. The income inequality in Essex County, MA (measured using the Gini index) is 0.483, which is higher than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$76,604

2018 value

± $2,536

1.49%

1 Year Growth

± 4.06%

Households in Essex County, MA have a median annual income of $76,604, which is more than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $75,480 in 2017, which represents a 1.49% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Essex County, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

$89,637

Average Male Salary

± $1,937

$66,042

Average Female Salary

± $1,326

In 2018, full-time male employees in Massachusetts made 1.36 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Massachusetts by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $78,414 ± $4,378

  2. White

    $68,799 ± $1,194

  3. Two or More Races

    $52,931 ± $4,910

In 2018 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Massachusetts workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.14 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Massachusetts by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Essex County, MA is from Massachusetts.

0.483

2018 Wage GINI

0.484

2017 Wage GINI

In 2018, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.483 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.101% decline from 2017 to 2018, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even.

The 2018 the GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Massachusetts in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Massachusetts across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 2532.05

  2. Census Tract 2544.02

  3. Census Tract 2543.02

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Essex County, MA was Census Tract 2532.05 with a value of $180,119, followed by Census Tract 2544.02 and Census Tract 2543.02, with respective values of $168,438 and $165,972.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Essex County, MA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

10.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Essex County, MA (82.4k out of 759k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 55 - 64.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    52,072 ± 1,680

  2. Hispanic

    36,260 ± 1,389

  3. Other

    17,586 ± 1,022

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Essex County, MA is White, followed by Hispanic and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

412k

2018 Value

± 10,728

0.666%

1 Year growth

± 3.65%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Essex County, MA grew at a rate of 0.666%, from 409k employees to 412k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Essex County, MA, are Management Occupations (51,502 people), Sales & Related Occupations (42,222 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (40,955 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Essex County, MA.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Essex County, MA, by number of employees, are Management Occupations (51,502 people), Sales & Related Occupations (42,222 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (40,955 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Essex County, MA has an unusually high number of residents working as Community & Social Service Occupations (1.27 times higher than expected), Management Occupations (1.23 times), and Healthcare Support Occupations (1.22 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Essex County, MA, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($95,523), Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors ($91,904), and Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($91,580).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

412k

2018 Value

± 10,728

0.666%

1 Year growth

± 3.65%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Essex County, MA grew at a rate of 0.666%, from 409k employees to 412k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Essex County, MA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (63,796 people), Retail Trade (46,662 people), and Manufacturing (43,098 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Essex County, MA, though some of these residents may live in Essex County, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Essex County, MA, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (63,796 people), Retail Trade (46,662 people), and Manufacturing (43,098 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Essex County, MA has an unusually high number of Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (1.15 times higher than expected), Health Care & Social Assistance (1.12 times), and Manufacturing (1.08 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Essex County, MA, by median earnings, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($81,557), Finance & Insurance ($74,833), and Public Administration ($70,941).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Gasoline

    $30.9B

  2. Mixed freight

    $29.2B

  3. Electronics

    $27.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts product (by dollars) was Gasoline with $30.9B, followed by Mixed freight ($29.2B) and Electronics ($27.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Massachusetts products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Massachusetts state.

$260B

2020 Value

$364B

Projected 2045 Value

40% growth

In 2020, total outbound Massachusetts trade was $260B. This is expected to increase 40% to $364B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Massachusetts trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. New York

    $14.6B

  2. Connecticut

    $13.9B

  3. New Hampshire

    $13.9B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New York with $14.6B, followed by Connecticut with $13.9B and New Hampshire and $13.9B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Massachusetts shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

96.6% of the population of Essex County, MA has health coverage, with 50.9% on employee plans, 20.4% on Medicaid, 11.4% on Medicare, 13.2% on non-group plans, and 0.639% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Essex County, MA was $10,559 in 2014. This is a 2.78% increase from the previous year ($10,273).

Primary care physicians in Essex County, MA see 1278 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.35% increase from the previous year (1261 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1137 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 204 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Bristol County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (11.4%). Additionally, Bristol County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (29.1%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,278 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Essex County, MA see an average of 1,278 patients per year. This represents a 1.35% increase from the previous year (1,261 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Essex County, MA in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

$10,559

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$5,302

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,922

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$11,899

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Massachusetts (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 2.78%, from $10,273 to $10,559.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

3.44%

Uninsured

50.9%

Employer Coverage

20.4%

Medicaid

11.4%

Medicare

13.2%

Non-Group

0.639%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Essex County, MA grew by 25.4% from 2.74% to 3.44%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Essex County, MA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Bristol County

    11.4% prevalence

  2. Hampden County

    11.1% prevalence

  3. Plymouth County

    10.8% prevalence

Bristol County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Massachusetts, at 11.4%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Massachusetts by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Essex County, MA is home to a population of 791k people, from which 91.7% are citizens. As of 2017, 16.1% of Essex County, MA residents were born outside of the country (126k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Essex County, MA is composed of 545k White Alone residents (68.9%), 173k Hispanic or Latino residents (21.9%), 28.7k Asian Alone residents (3.63%), 25.2k Black or African American Alone residents (3.18%), 13.9k Two or More Races residents (1.76%), 4.22k Some Other Race Alone residents (0.534%), 906 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.115%), and 0 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0%).

Age

Age by Nativity

40

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.5

44

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 0.9

In 2018, the median age of all people in Essex County, MA was 41.1. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 40, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 44. But people in Essex County, MA are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Essex County, MA residents was 41.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

16.1%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

126k people

15.7%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

122k people

As of 2017, 16.1% of Essex County, MA residents (126k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Essex County, MA was 15.7%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Essex County, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Most Common Origin

  1. China

    100,431 ± 7,724 people

  2. Dominican Republic

    97,136 ± 7,598 people

  3. Brazil

    81,900 ± 6,984 people

In 2018, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was China, the natal country of 100,431 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 97,136 and Brazil with 81,900.

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Citizenship

91.7%

2018 Citizenship

92.4%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 91.7% of Essex County, MA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Essex County, MA was 92.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Essex County, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    545k ± 2.05k

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    173k ± 10.3k

  3. Asian Alone

    28.7k ± 1.34k

In 2018, there were 3.15 times more White Alone residents (545k people) in Essex County, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 173k Hispanic or Latino and 28.7k Asian Alone residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Essex County, MA as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    11,136 ± 1,403

  2. Korea

    4,043 ± 1,101

  3. Gulf War (2001-)

    3,139 ± 841

Essex County, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.75 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2017, universities in Essex County, MA awarded 8,279 degrees. The student population of Essex County, MA is skewed towards women, with 13,970 male students and 20,787 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Essex County, MA are White (5,498 and 69.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (1,059 and 13.3%), Unknown (502 and 6.31%), and Black or African American (478 and 6.01%).

The largest universities in Essex County, MA by number of degrees awarded are Salem State University (2,194 and 26.5%), Merrimack College (1,203 and 14.5%), and Endicott College (1,134 and 13.7%).

The most popular majors in Essex County, MA are General Business Administration & Management (576 and 6.96%), Truck, Bus, & Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor (440 and 5.31%), and Registered Nursing (334 and 4.03%).

The median tuition costs in Essex County, MA are $31,454 for private four year colleges, and $910 and $7,050 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. Registered Nursing

    246 degrees awarded

  2. General Business Administration & Management

    281 degrees awarded

  3. General Psychology

    268 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Essex County, MA was Registered Nursing with 246 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Essex County, MA according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. Salem State University

    2,194 degrees awarded

  2. Merrimack College

    1,203 degrees awarded

  3. Endicott College

    1,134 degrees awarded

$910

Median In-State Public

$31,454

Median Private

In 2017, the Essex County, MA institution with the largest number of graduating students was Salem State University with 2,194 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

3,446

Degrees Awarded to Men

4,833

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 3,446 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Essex County, MA, which is 0.713 times less than the 4,833 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Essex County, MA by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    5,498 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    1,059 degrees awarded

  3. Unknown

    502 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Essex County, MA were to White students. These 5,498 degrees mean that there were 5.19 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 1,059 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Essex County, MA was $444,700 in 2018, which is 1.94 times larger than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $405,500 to $444,700, a 9.67% increase. The homeownership rate in Essex County, MA is 62.8%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Essex County, MA have an average commute time of 29.1 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Essex County, MA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$444,700

2018 Median

± $7,106

$405,500

2017 Median

± $7,603

In 2018, the median property value in Essex County, MA grew to to $444,700 from the previous year's value of $405,500.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Essex County, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Essex County, MA the largest share of households have a property value in the $500k - $750k range.

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$76,604

Median Household Income

± $2,536

295k

Number of Households

± 8,756

In 2018, the median household income of the 295k households in Essex County, MA grew to $76,604 from the previous year's value of $75,480.

The following chart displays the households in Essex County, MA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

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Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Essex County, MA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Essex County, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

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Rent vs Own

62.8%

2018 Homeownership

64.2%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 62.8% of the housing units in Essex County, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 64.2%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Essex County, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

29.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Essex County, MA have a longer commute time (29.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.7 minutes). Additionally, 4.88% of the workforce in Essex County, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Essex County, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    75%

  2. Carpooled

    8.42%

  3. Public Transit

    5.71%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Essex County, MA was Drove Alone (75%), followed by those who Carpooled (8.42%) and those who Public Transit (5.71%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Essex County, MA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Essex County, MA have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

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