Essex County, MA

County

Add Comparison

Population

790,638

0.692% 1-year growth

US Senator

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ed Markey

Democratic Party

Median Age

41.1

Poverty Rate

10.7%

Median Household Income

$76,604

1.49% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$444,700

9.67% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

411,557

0.666% 1-year growth

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 5 largest ethnic groups in Essex County, MA are White (Non-Hispanic) (68.9%), Other (Hispanic) (10.9%), White (Hispanic) (8.57%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (3.63%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.18%). NaNk% 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.

Essex County, MA borders Middlesex County, MA, Suffolk County, MA, Hillsborough County, NH, and Rockingham County, NH.

About the photo: Whale watching in Gloucester

Photo by Michelle Callahan

United States Massachusetts Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Massachusetts. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Massachusetts, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Massachusetts (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Massachusetts across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Essex County, MA went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (35.9%), followed by Other (5.59%). The most partisan county was Suffolk County, MA with 79.6% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing the state of Massachusetts. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Hillary Rodham Clinton (58.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (35.9%)
Republican Party
Other (5.59%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (35.9%), followed by Other (5.59%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Massachusetts for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Massachusetts.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Popular Vote for Essex County, MA

58.5% for the Democratic Party

Most Partisan Counties in Massachusetts

Suffolk County, MA
79.6% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Dukes County, MA
73% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Berkshire County, MA
67.5% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Massachusetts was Suffolk County, MA with 79.6% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

The following map shows the counties in Massachusetts colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Ed Markey

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on July 16, 2013
Elected to the seat to succeed Mo Cowan, who had been appointed to replace John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing Massachusetts.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Massachusetts over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from Massachusetts

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Massachusetts have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Essex County, MA is home to a population of 791k people, from which 91.7% are citizens. As of 2018, 16.5% of Essex County, MA residents were born outside of the country (131k people).

In 2018, there were 6.31 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (545k people) in Essex County, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 86.3k Other (Hispanic) and 67.8k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Essex County, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
545k ± 2.05k
Other (Hispanic)
86.3k ± 6.74k
White (Hispanic)
67.8k ± 6.6k

21.9%

Hispanic Population

173k people

21.9% of the people in Essex County, MA are hispanic (173k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Essex County, MA as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

16.5%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

131k people

16.1%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

126k people

As of 2018, 16.5% of Essex County, MA residents (131k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Essex County, MA was 16.1%, 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.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.5

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.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

China
100,431 ± 7,724 people
Dominican Republic
97,136 ± 7,598 people
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.

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.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
11,136 ± 1,403
Korea
4,043 ± 1,101
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.

Economy

Median household income in Essex County, MA is $76,604. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Essex County, MA was Census Tract 2532.05 with a value of $194,866, followed by Census Tract 2543.01 and Census Tract 2131, with respective values of $181,130 and $174,340.

Males in Massachusetts have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $66,042. The income inequality in Massachusetts (measured using the Gini index) is 0.483, which is higher than than the national average.

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).

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.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Essex County, MA compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

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 in Massachusetts

± $1,937

$66,042

Average Female Salary in Massachusetts

± $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.

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 in Massachusetts

Asian
$78,414 ± $4,378
White
$68,799 ± $1,194
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 in Massachusetts.

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

Wage Distribution

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

0.483

2018 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.484

2017 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

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 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.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 2532.05
Census Tract 2543.01
Census Tract 2131

In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Essex County, MA was Census Tract 2532.05 with a value of $194,866, followed by Census Tract 2543.01 and Census Tract 2131, with respective values of $181,130 and $174,340.

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

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

10.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Essex County, MA (81.8k out of 765k 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 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

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.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
51,935 ± 1,709
Hispanic
37,187 ± 1,468
Other
17,676 ± 1,040

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

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.

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).

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).

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

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

Gasoline
$31.5B
Mixed freight
$27.2B
Electronics
$24.1B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts product (by dollars) was Gasoline with $31.5B, followed by Mixed freight ($27.2B) and Electronics ($24.1B).

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

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Massachusetts.

$240B

2015 Value in Massachusetts

$364B

Projected 2045 Value in Massachusetts

51.4% growth

In 2015, total outbound Massachusetts trade was $240B. This is expected to increase 51.4% to $364B by 2045.

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

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

New Hampshire
$13.2B
New York
$13.2B
Connecticut
$12.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New Hampshire with $13.2B, followed by New York with $13.2B and Connecticut and $12.7B.

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

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

Registered Nursing
246 degree-majorss awarded
General Business Administration & Management
281 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
268 degree-majorss awarded

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

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

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Salem State University
2,194 degrees awarded
Merrimack College
1,203 degrees awarded
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.

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.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
5,498 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,059 degrees awarded
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
75%
Carpooled
8.42%
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.

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.

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 Massachusetts 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 in Essex County, MA

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 its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
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.

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 in Massachusetts

$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.

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.