Population
826,653
2025
+2.3% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Essex County, MA: population growth, jobs and income
Essex County gained 483 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Essex County had an estimated 826,653 residents in 2025, up 2.3% (18,854 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Massachusetts as a whole (+2.4%), and the 9th fastest growth of 14 counties in Massachusetts.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Essex County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Essex County, ranked against Massachusetts and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,756/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.0%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1,2312025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−5,184
2025
−6.3 per 1,000 residents
−20,560 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.6%
2025
+1.5 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
942
2025
−44.7% since 2021
1.1 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$101,883
2020–24
+23.9% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
287,960
2023
−2.8% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 5,184 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 287,960 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.6% in 2025, 1.5 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 942 new homes in 2025, or 1.1 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $101,883 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +23.9% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,177th.
Part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area.
Get Essex County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Essex County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Essex County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 826,653 | +483 |
| 2024 | 826,170 | +8,523 |
| 2023 | 817,647 | +7,593 |
| 2022 | 810,054 | +2,667 |
| 2021 | 807,387 | −412 |
| 2020 | 807,799 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Essex County
Essex County grew by 18,854 people since 2020 even though 20,560 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 5,768, and net international migration added 33,438.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +1,553 | +5,768 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +4,109 | +33,438 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −5,184 | −20,560 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +5 | +208 | |
| Total change | +483 | +18,854 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Massachusetts | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 9th of 14 | 1,177th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 11th of 14 | 2,683rd of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 12th of 14 | 2,234th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 6th of 14 | 154th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 7th of 14 | 2,198th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 12th of 14 | 2,004th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Essex County, MA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Essex County's population change (+2.3%) was ahead of 1 of its 4 neighbouring counties and behind 3.
3 of its 4 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Essex County's $101,883 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA This county | 826,653 | +2.3% | −6.3 | 1.1 | $101,883 |
| Suffolk County, MA | 791,891 | +0.1% | −16.4 | 3.0 | $95,631 |
| Rockingham County, NH | 324,077 | +3.0% | 6.0 | 5.8 | $118,331 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,669,979 | +2.8% | −6.7 | 1.4 | $130,847 |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 433,415 | +2.5% | 1.8 | 1.5 | $103,545 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Essex County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.3% between 2020 and 2025, about 18,854 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Massachusetts as a whole changed +2.4% over the same years. That ranks 9th of 14 counties in Massachusetts for population growth.
How many people moved to Essex County?
On net, none in 2025: about 5,184 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Essex County?
It averaged 4.6% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Essex County?
About 826,653 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Essex County?
Private employers there had 287,960 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.8% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Massachusetts
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Massachusetts county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Essex County data alerts
Email me when Essex County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.