3rd most populous of 14
With 823,938 residents in 2024, Essex County ranks 3rd by population among Massachusetts's 14 counties and is home to 11.5% of the state's residents.
Essex County is home to 823,938 people (2024 estimate) on 493 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
823,938
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
809,940
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+1.7%
2020–2024
Land area
493 mi²
1,276 km²
Population density
1,672.9 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
8,443
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
7,173
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+1,270
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+6,430
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$86,852
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$60.7 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$101,883
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.4%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
43.0%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
19.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$619,100
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.1%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024823,938▲ 14%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 823,938 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 743,159 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 725,025 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +13.6% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +9,656 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −3,226 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 10.2 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 8.7 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Massachusetts | 3rd of 14 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $86,852 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $60.7 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $101,883 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 43.0% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 19.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $619,100 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,756/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 41.2 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 313,147 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Essex County in context
Comparable indicators for Essex County, Massachusetts and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Massachusetts | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +1.7% | +1.5% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 10.2 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 8.7 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 7.8 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 1672.9 | 914.8 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $86,852 | $93,607 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $101,883 | $103,960 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.0% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 43.0% | 47.3% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 19.1% | 18.0% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $619,100 | $562,100 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,756/month | $1,762/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 41.2 years | 40.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.5% | 62.5% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
6 cities · choose how to order them
Did you know? Essex County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 725,025 in 2000 to 823,938 in 2024, a change of +13.6%, compared with +12.2% for Massachusetts as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 8,443 births and 7,173 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 1,270.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 823,938.
4th in density
Essex County has about 1672.9 residents per square mile of land, ranking 4th of 14 counties; Massachusetts averages 914.8.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $101,883 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 6th of 14 Massachusetts counties; the state median is $103,960.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $60.7 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 5th largest among 14 Massachusetts counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 1.3% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS