1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Essex County is $1,756 a month against a median household income of $101,883, about 21% of income (ACS 2020-24). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Essex County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Essex County at a glance
- Essex County industries and commutes
- What stands out in Essex County
- Homes and rents, Essex County
- Income in Essex County compared with Massachusetts
- Regional comparison for Essex County
- Towns and communities in Essex County
- Reading the Essex County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income, Essex County edition
- Who lives in Essex County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Essex County
- Steps before you apply in Essex County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Essex County at a glance
Roughly 813,054 residents live in Essex County, Massachusetts, 3rd by population among the state's 14 counties and county equivalents. Its 493 square miles average 1,651 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 34 Census places inside Essex County, Lynn leads by population with about 101,709; 20 of the 34 are incorporated.
Essex County industries and commutes
Education and health care (26%), professional and administrative services (15%) and manufacturing (11%) lead Essex County's job mix. The survey's unemployment rate for Essex County averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.2%). 25% of Essex County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 21% need 45 or more. Only 9.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Essex County | Difference from Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | -2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.7% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | -0.3 pts |
Self-employed in Essex County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
What stands out in Essex County
The 2 Essex County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Massachusetts, and what each means for a borrower:
- On population, Essex County sits near the top of Massachusetts at 813,054, 3rd highest of 14. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Essex County sits near the top of Massachusetts at 57%, 3rd highest of 14. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
Homes and rents, Essex County
Half of Essex County renters pay more than $1,756 a month and half pay less; the Massachusetts midpoint is $1,762. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 57% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $619,100, about 6.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 63%. Median construction year: 1960.
| Cost | Essex County | Massachusetts figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | +5.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 5% | 8% | -3.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | +2.8 pts |
| Median home value | $619,100 | $562,100 | 10% higher |
| Owners | 63% | 63% | +1.0 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,756/mo | $1,762/mo | level |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Income in Essex County compared with Massachusetts
Half of Essex County households take in less than $101,883 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Massachusetts median of $103,960. In the state ranking that is 6th of 14.
| Household income | Essex County | vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.4% | +0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.8% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.8% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 21.0% | -1.2 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 51% have six-figure incomes. Essex County counts about 76,216 residents below the poverty line, 9.4% of the population. None of these numbers decides a Essex County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Regional comparison for Essex County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 46 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Essex County's $101,883 median trails 4 of the six and beats 2; the range runs $88,570 (Strafford County) to $130,847 (Middlesex County). The list crosses into New Hampshire, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County | - | $101,883 | $1,756/mo | 63% |
| Suffolk County, MA | 22 mi | $95,631 | $2,129/mo | 36% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 27 mi | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 29 mi | $130,847 | $2,201/mo | 61% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 36 mi | $130,739 | $2,149/mo | 69% |
| Plymouth County, MA | 46 mi | $114,201 | $1,747/mo | 78% |
| Strafford County, NH | 46 mi | $88,570 | $1,488/mo | 67% |
Towns and communities in Essex County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 34 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 93% of Essex County residents live in one of the 34. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $60,433 in Lawrence to $206,389 in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Rent is cheapest in Topsfield ($994) and steepest in Lynnfield ($2,676). No Essex County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 34.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn | city | 101,709 | $75,043 | $1,722 | 13 mi |
| Lawrence | city | 88,736 | $60,433 | $1,662 | 16 mi |
| Haverhill | city | 67,698 | $88,326 | $1,668 | 15 mi |
| Peabody | city | 54,695 | $96,657 | $1,950 | 9 mi |
| Methuen | city | 53,475 | $113,310 | $1,749 | 17 mi |
| Salem | city | 44,795 | $85,153 | $1,836 | 10 mi |
| Beverly | city | 42,665 | $106,044 | $1,771 | 6 mi |
| North Andover | town | 31,490 | $140,670 | $2,223 | 12 mi |
| Gloucester | city | 30,075 | $83,883 | $1,411 | 9 mi |
| Saugus | CDP | 28,773 | $101,539 | $2,241 | 14 mi |
| Danvers | CDP | 28,098 | $125,395 | $2,076 | 6 mi |
| Marblehead | CDP | 20,413 | $182,132 | $1,764 | 10 mi |
| Newburyport | city | 18,652 | $139,625 | $1,592 | 12 mi |
| Amesbury | city | 17,403 | $103,554 | $1,683 | 15 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Reading the Essex County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Essex County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Essex County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong-credit shopping. Many Essex County households (51%) earn six figures; prequalify with several lenders at once.
- Rent squeeze. 57% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income, Essex County edition
Essex County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $8,490 a month: gross income for a household at the Essex County median
- Median rent: $1,756, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,300: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,895 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $101,883 median has less room than this, often none.
Who lives in Essex County, in numbers
Degree holders: 43% of adults over 25. 2.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Essex County | Difference from Massachusetts | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | +1.2 yrs | -0.3 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.0% | -4.2 pts | +20.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | +1.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.8% | +0.2 pts | -5.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 9.3% | -2.4 pts | +3.9 pts |
| Work from home | 16.4% | -2.2 pts | +7.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | -0.7 pts | -3.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 0.0 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 12.0% |
Licensing and complaints for Essex County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Essex County borrowers answers to the Massachusetts Division of Banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Massachusetts page has statewide figures to set beside Essex County's.
Steps before you apply in Essex County
Steps that save money for Essex County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $101,883 a good income in Essex County?
It is the county median, so half of Essex County households earn more and half less; 51% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in Essex County?
$1,756 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
I live in a small Essex County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill, Peabody, Methuen and 29 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Essex County or elsewhere in Massachusetts, the same rules apply.
Is there a Essex County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Massachusetts it is the Massachusetts Division of Banks.