1st Advantage MortgageThe median Essex County household earns $59,294, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Essex County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Vermont license.
On this page
- Essex County at a glance
- Employment and commuting in Essex County
- Where Essex County differs from the rest of Vermont
- Where Essex County households live
- Income in Essex County compared with Vermont
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- The communities that make up Essex County
- What the numbers mean for Essex County borrowers
- More Essex County figures
- Room for a loan payment in Essex County
- Checklist for Essex County applicants
- Vermont lender licensing
- More guides for Essex County
- Frequently asked questions
Essex County at a glance
With an estimated 5,982 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Essex County ranks 14th of 14 in Vermont for population. It covers 662 square miles of land, or about 9 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Essex County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Brighton is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 1,167 people (20% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Essex County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Essex County
The biggest employer of Essex County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by construction (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 11% locally and 5% for Vermont. 4.8% of Essex County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 15%; under 15 minutes: 27%.
| Top industries | Essex County share | +/- vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -6.9 pts |
| Construction | 11.8% | +4.0 pts |
| Public administration | 10.5% | +5.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Essex County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Where Essex County differs from the rest of Vermont
Out of every Vermont county, Essex County is most unusual on these measures.
- Essex County ranks the lowest of 14 Vermont counties for median household income: $59,294, against $81,203 statewide. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Few Vermont counties match Essex County on population: 5,982 here, 647,106 for the state, ranking the lowest of 14. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
- Median home value: $172,500 in Essex County, the lowest of 14 in Vermont. With modest home values, equity borrowing is rarely large.
Where Essex County households live
Half of Essex County renters pay more than $827 a month and half pay less; the Vermont midpoint is $1,234. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $172,500, a typical Essex County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1973. Against the median U.S. county, Essex County rent is 6% below.
| Essex County | Vermont | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 82% | 73% | +9.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 29% | +5.9 pts |
| Median home value | $172,500 | $316,600 | 46% lower |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 5.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $827/mo | $1,234/mo | 33% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | +1.2 pts |
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).
Income in Essex County compared with Vermont
At $59,294, the typical Essex County household income is 10% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Essex County | +/- vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +9.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -6.8 pts |
On the low end, 30% of Essex County households report under $35,000; at the top, 25% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 13.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 10.1%. Essex County scores 0.451 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Essex County median.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Essex County's, from 22 to 53 miles away. Washington County leads the group on income ($83,449), Coos County trails ($57,677), and Essex County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Maine, New Hampshire, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County | - | $59,294 | $827/mo | 82% |
| Coos County, NH | 22 mi | $57,677 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Caledonia County, VT | 26 mi | $69,970 | $920/mo | 79% |
| Orleans County, VT | 26 mi | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 45 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Oxford County, ME | 52 mi | $60,173 | $836/mo | 81% |
| Washington County, VT | 53 mi | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
The communities that make up Essex County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Essex County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 4,404 people, so roughly 26% of residents live outside any named place. From Brighton to the smallest crossroads, Essex County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | town | 1,167 | $47,375 | $775 | 8 mi |
| Island Pond | CDP | 852 | $46,214 | $775 | 10 mi |
| Guildhall | town | 371 | $115,000 | $850 | 14 mi |
| Canaan | CDP | 293 | $60,263 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Maidstone | town | 241 | $85,833 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Bloomfield | town | 234 | $54,375 | n/a | 8 mi |
| East Haven | town | 225 | $38,438 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Lunenburg | CDP | 201 | $60,500 | $975 | 19 mi |
| Gilman | CDP | 165 | $57,788 | $1,279 | 21 mi |
| Concord | CDP | 143 | $47,115 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Brunswick | town | 109 | $128,125 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Lemington | town | 108 | $55,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Norton | town | 108 | $65,625 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Beecher Falls | CDP | 67 | $26,042 | n/a | 23 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What the numbers mean for Essex County borrowers
Based on the Essex County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Retirees. At a median age of 51.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Rent at $827. With 50% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
More Essex County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Essex County | Compared with Vermont | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | -22.3 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Median age | 51.9 | +8.8 yrs | +10.4 yrs |
| Work from home | 10.1% | -6.8 pts | +1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | +5.2 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | +3.8 pts | +0.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | -2.0 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | +1.2 pts | +0.4 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | +0.9 pts | -3.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Essex County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.0% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
Room for a loan payment in Essex County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Essex County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,941 gross per month ($59,294 / 12)
- 17% goes to median rent ($827)
- At 36%, room after rent is $952 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Essex County applicants
Quick steps for Essex County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Vermont.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Vermont lender licensing
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Vermont license. Nationally, Essex County residents can file with the CFPB. More on Vermont: Vermont personal loans.
More guides for Essex County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Essex County rank on income in Vermont?
14th of 14, with a median of $59,294. The state median is $81,203.
Can a Essex County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $827 median rent and $4,941 median monthly income, rent alone uses 17%; add other debts before a new payment.
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 Brighton, Island Pond, Guildhall, Canaan, Maidstone and 11 more.
Will a Essex County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Vermont as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Essex County?
Start with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.