1st Advantage MortgageIn Essex County, New York, the typical household earns $71,661 a year and the typical rent is $934. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Essex County
- What Essex County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Essex County
- Renting and owning in Essex County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Essex County
- Essex County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Essex County median
- More Essex County figures
- What the numbers mean for Essex County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Essex County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Essex County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Essex County's population at 36,973; only 55 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,794 square miles, that works out to roughly 20.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (1 incorporated, 10 census-designated); the largest is Ticonderoga, with about 3,260 residents, or 9% of the county.
What Essex County households earn
At $71,661, the typical Essex County household income is 9% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 31 New York counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Essex County | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.5% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +9.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -9.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Essex County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.2%, 3 points lower than the state's 14.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.455 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Essex County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Essex County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 13%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Essex County workers | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -4.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Essex County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $934 in Essex County versus $1,621 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Essex County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,900, about 3.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Cost | Essex County | New York figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $934/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,900 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 33% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Essex County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Essex County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 12,617 residents, leaving about 66% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $133,462 at the median in Willsboro Point, $41,612 in Lake Placid. Rent is cheapest in Schroon Lake ($506) and steepest in Wilmington ($1,179). No Essex County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticonderoga | CDP | 3,260 | $54,938 | $847 | 26 mi |
| Lake Placid | village | 2,306 | $41,612 | $1,102 | 16 mi |
| Port Henry | CDP | 1,410 | $45,706 | $803 | 16 mi |
| Mineville | CDP | 1,206 | $68,786 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Wilmington | CDP | 904 | $90,625 | $1,179 | 19 mi |
| Schroon Lake | CDP | 898 | $69,531 | $506 | 19 mi |
| Elizabethtown | CDP | 721 | $64,583 | $741 | 12 mi |
| Willsboro | CDP | 661 | $42,813 | $729 | 26 mi |
| Willsboro Point | CDP | 646 | $133,462 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Westport | CDP | 403 | $64,500 | $864 | 18 mi |
| Witherbee | CDP | 202 | $42,757 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Essex County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Addison County at 32 miles out to Hamilton County at 48. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Essex County; Chittenden County is highest at $96,759 and Franklin County lowest at $65,151. Some neighbors are in Vermont. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Essex County resident follows New York rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County | - | $71,661 | $934/mo | 77% |
| Addison County, VT | 32 mi | $89,639 | $1,177/mo | 79% |
| Warren County, NY | 38 mi | $78,442 | $1,105/mo | 72% |
| Franklin County, NY | 43 mi | $65,151 | $843/mo | 73% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 43 mi | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
| Clinton County, NY | 45 mi | $71,224 | $1,003/mo | 69% |
| Hamilton County, NY | 48 mi | $68,835 | $912/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Essex County median
How much room does a median Essex County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,972 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $934, takes 16% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,455 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Essex County figures
College graduates make up 33% of the adult population. 5.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Essex County | All of New York | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.8% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
What the numbers mean for Essex County borrowers
Based on the Essex County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Older households. A 49.9 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Lender oversight for Essex County
The New York State Department of Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's New York license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the New York state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Essex County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A New York license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Essex County?
$71,661 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $85,974 for New York. It ranks 32nd of 62 in the state.
How much is rent in Essex County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $934 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Essex County?
By population: Ticonderoga, Lake Placid, Port Henry, Mineville, Wilmington. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Does living in Essex County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Essex County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Essex County?
Start with the New York State Department of Financial Services, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.