Essex, MA

Census Place

Add Comparison

2024 Population

1,688

US Senator

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ed Markey

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

42.1

0.237% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

7.52%

126% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$161,250

3.3% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$797,100

2.93% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

1,101

4.76% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Essex, MA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.9% of the residents in Essex, MA are U.S. citizens.

In 2024, the median property value in Essex, MA was $797,100, and the homeownership rate was 72.7%.

Most people in Essex, MA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Essex, MA was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: A view of the marshes from picnic tables at J. T. Farnham's in Essex.

Photo by Tim Sackton

United States Massachusetts Essex County, MA Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Essex County (Central)--Peabody, Danvers & Saugus PUMA, MA

Population & Diversity

Essex, MA is home to a population of 1.69k people, from which 98.9% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.96% of Essex, MA residents were born outside of the country (50 people).

In 2024, there were 52.7 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (1.63k people) in Essex, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 31 Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 9 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.9%

2024 Citizenship

99.2%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.9% of Essex, MA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Essex, MA was 99.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Essex, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
1.63k ± 327
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
31 ± 36
White (Hispanic)
9 ± 14

0.948%

Hispanic Population

16 people

0.948% of the people in Essex, MA are hispanic (16 people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Brazil
108,593 ± 8,028 people
Dominican Republic
106,391 ± 7,947 people
China
103,416 ± 7,837 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was Brazil, the natal country of 108,593 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 106,391 and China with 103,416.

Foreign-Born Population

2.96%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

50 people

1.24%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

22 people

As of 2024, 2.96% of Essex, MA residents (50 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Essex, MA was 1.24%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (1990s)
48 ± 74
Vietnam
16 ± 26
Gulf War (2001-)
7 ± 23

Essex, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (1990s), 3 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Essex, MA.

Health

96% of the population of Essex, MA has health coverage, with 71% on employee plans, 5.45% on Medicaid, 10.8% on Medicare, 8.41% on non-group plans, and 0.296% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Massachusetts see 990 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (990 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 915 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 130 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48% were men and 52% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.5% under 18 years, 9.3% between 18 and 34 years, 50.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 12.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48% were men and 52% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.03%

Uninsured

71%

Employer Coverage

5.45%

Medicaid

10.8%

Medicare

8.41%

Non-Group

0.296%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Essex, MA grew by 694% from 0.507% to 4.03%.

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

Economy

The economy of Essex, MA employs 1.1k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Essex, MA were Educational Services (279 people), Accommodation & Food Services (140 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (103 people), and the highest paying industries were Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($250,001), Manufacturing ($132,756), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($119,808).

Employment

Occupations

1.1k

2024 Value

± 237

−4.76%

1 Year decline

± 32.1%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Essex, MA declined at a rate of −4.76%, from 1.16k employees to 1.1k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Essex, MA, are Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (216 people), Management Occupations (214 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (149 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Essex, MA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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.

Industries

Employment by Industries

1.1k

2024 Value

± 237

−4.76%

1 Year decline

± 32.1%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Essex, MA declined at a rate of −4.76%, from 1.16k employees to 1.1k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Essex, MA, are Educational Services (279 people), Accommodation & Food Services (140 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (103 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Essex, MA, though some of these residents may live in Essex, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$83,295

Median earning men ± $22,819

$48,359

Median earning women ± $21,085

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($155,865), Manufacturing ($133,590), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($83,750).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($72,391), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($64,750), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($26,429).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

2.61%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 3.67M people employed in Massachusetts. This represents a 2.61% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 17.5%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Massachusetts.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Kamala Harris with 61.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (36%), followed by Other (1.48%).

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 Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Essex, MA. Showing the available data for Massachusetts.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (61.2%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (36%)
Republican Party
Other (1.48%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Kamala Harris with 61.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (36%), followed by Other (1.48%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Massachusetts for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

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 the seat following the resignation of John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/massachusetts-special-senate-election.html |title=Democrat Wins Special Election for Kerry's Senate Seat |work=The New York Times |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2020 |last1=Seelye |first1=Katharine Q. }}

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.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Essex, MA was $797,100 in 2024, which is 2.4 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $774,400 to $797,100, a 2.93% increase. The homeownership rate in Essex, MA is 72.7%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Essex, MA have an average commute time of 24.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Essex, MA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$797,100

Median Property Value 2024

±$85,069

$421

Median Property Taxes

±$112

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Essex, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Essex, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

72.7%

Homeownership

2024

62%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 72.7% of the housing units in Essex, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 75.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Essex, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

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

$161,250

Median Household Income

± $62,590

579

Number of Households

± 143

In 2024, the median household income of the 579 households in Essex, MA grew to $161,250 from the previous year's value of $156,094.

The following chart displays the households in Essex, 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.

Wage Distribution

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

0.477

2024 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.478

2023 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2024, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.477 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.306% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.474. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (74.2%)
Worked At Home (13.6%)
Walked (8.66%)

In 2024, 74.2% of workers in Essex, MA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (13.6%) and those who walked to work (8.66%).

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.

Commute Time

24.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Essex, MA have a shorter commute time (24.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 7.88% of the workforce in Essex, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

7.52% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Essex, MA (127 out of 1.69k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 35 - 44, followed by Females 15 and then Males 16 - 17.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Essex, MA is White, followed by Black and Native American.

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.