HomeMassachusettsEssex County
Essex County, Massachusetts: commercial real estate data.
Essex County, Massachusetts had an estimated 823,938 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 809,940, across 493 square miles. County output reached $60.73 bn in 2024, 19,988 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 1,569 7(a) approvals worth $375.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Essex County
How many people live in Essex County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024813,054
- Households313,147
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$101,883
- Median age41.2
- Median gross rent$1,756 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$619,100
- Home value to household income6.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher43.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree17.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over572,037
- Population under 18169,485
- Share under 1820.8 percent
- Population 65 and over150,106
- Share 65 and over18.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64493,463
- Civilian labor force448,303
- Unemployment rate5.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.7 percent
- Rank by population among Massachusetts counties3rd of 14
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included78th of 3,222
Essex County is the 3rd largest of 14 Massachusetts counties by population. A median home costs 6.1 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.8 percent against 18.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Essex County
Is Essex County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024823,938
- Census 2020 base population809,940
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.73 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20247,741
- Births, 20248,443
- Deaths, 20247,173
- Natural change, 20241,270
- Net domestic migration, 2024-3,226
- Net international migration, 20249,656
- Total net migration, 20246,430
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-16,761
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1265th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.73 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Essex County
Where are people moving to Essex County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving16,804
- People arriving, from those returns26,156
- Tax returns filed by households leaving19,035
- Net household movement-2,231
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.79 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-246.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$106,455
- Average income of a leaving household$106,913
- Largest single originMiddlesex County (5,431 households)
- Largest single destinationMiddlesex County (4,327 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 5,431 | 8,646 | $582.0 m |
| Suffolk County | 2,962 | 4,795 | $330.3 m |
| Rockingham County | 851 | 1,268 | $64.8 m |
| Norfolk County | 552 | 829 | $84.8 m |
| Worcester County | 395 | 570 | $28.7 m |
| Hillsborough County | 386 | 560 | $34.6 m |
| Plymouth County | 180 | 265 | $14.2 m |
| Bristol County | 161 | 235 | $9.7 m |
Households arriving report $458 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Middlesex County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Essex County
What is the Essex County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$60.73 bn
- County GDP, 2023$58.25 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.3 percent
- GDP change over five years29.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Massachusetts areas BEA publishes5th of 14
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes98th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$74,697
Output grew 4.3 percent in the latest year and 29.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Essex County
Employment by industry in Essex County
- Covered employment, annual average323,694
- Establishments reporting28,628
- Average annual pay$75,548
- Average weekly wage$1,453
- Health care and social assistance, employment64,038
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$61,998
- Manufacturing, employment39,526
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$109,328
- Retail trade, employment34,981
- Retail trade, average annual pay$42,998
- Accommodation and food services, employment28,875
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,136
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment17,386
- Construction, employment17,091
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 64,038 | 9,524 | $61,998 |
| Manufacturing | 39,526 | 832 | $109,328 |
| Retail trade | 34,981 | 2,289 | $42,998 |
| Accommodation and food services | 28,875 | 1,702 | $32,136 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 17,386 | 2,802 | $135,143 |
| Construction | 17,091 | 2,389 | $93,526 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 16,503 | 1,403 | $60,343 |
| Other services, except public administration | 12,441 | 2,156 | $42,886 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 64,038 jobs, 19.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Essex County
How many businesses are in Essex County?
- Establishments, all industries19,988
- Employment at those establishments287,960
- Annual payroll$19.51 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Essex County
Building permits in Essex County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,011
- Declared construction value permitted$289.6 m
- Single family units authorized393
- Multifamily units authorized618
- Multifamily share of units61.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$286,430
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.2
Multifamily is 61.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Essex County
SBA loans in Essex County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded1,569
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$375.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$239,066
- Median 7(a) approval$100,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$500,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)12,961
- Jobs per approval8.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active92
- Distinct industries receiving approvals324
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer4.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms66
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter1,480
- Franchise loans75
- Franchise share of approvals4.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (72)
- Most active lenderEastern Bank (447)
- 504 approvals recorded642
- 504 gross approval dollars$344.2 m
- Average 504 approval$536,168
- Median 504 approval$342,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval7.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.0
- Most active CDCBay Colony Development Corporation (271)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$719.3 m
The average approval of $239,066 sits well above the median of $100,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 4.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Essex County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Essex County
Do SBA loans in Essex County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded330
- Paid in full306
- Charged off24
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans7.3 percent
- Status: Paid in full306
- Status: Charged off24
- Status: Exempt from disclosure962
- Status: Cancelled174
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed103
Of the 330 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Essex County
SBA lending by place in Essex County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending41
- Lawrence, approvals141
- Salem, approvals132
- Beverly, approvals128
- Peabody, approvals126
- Lynn, approvals105
- Methuen, approvals103
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | 141 | $35,179,300 |
| Salem | 132 | $16,157,900 |
| Beverly | 128 | $28,797,000 |
| Peabody | 126 | $27,147,600 |
| Lynn | 105 | $20,848,900 |
| Methuen | 103 | $28,519,500 |
| Haverhill | 88 | $19,942,100 |
| Danvers | 86 | $31,206,200 |
| 33 other borrower cities | 660 | $167,295,600 |
Lawrence accounts for 141 approvals against 132 in Salem. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Essex County
How large is Essex County?
- Land area493 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Massachusetts counties9th of 14
- Width, east to west33.8 mi
- Height, north to south32.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land1,649
- Establishments per square mile40.54
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Essex County
Flood risk in Essex County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book34
- Of those, participating in the NFIP34
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Essex County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Essex County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Essex County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Essex County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024813,054
- Households313,147
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$101,883
- Median age41.2
Common questions
Essex County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Essex County, Massachusetts?
The Census Bureau estimates 823,938 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 813,054, in 313,147 households, ranking 3rd of 14 Massachusetts counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Essex County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.73 percent since the 2020 census base of 809,940, to 823,938 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 8,443 births against 7,173 deaths, with net migration of 6,430. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Essex County?
$101,883. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $619,100, which is 6.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,756 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Essex County?
19,988 establishments, employing 287,960 people with an annual payroll of $19.51 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Essex County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 64,038 jobs, 19.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 323,694 jobs at an average annual pay of $75,548, or $1,453 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Essex County?
1,569 7(a) approvals totaling $375.1 m since FY2020, across 92 lenders, with a median approval of $100,000, plus 642 504 approvals worth $344.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Essex County get paid back?
Of the 330 loans that have reached a final outcome, 306 were paid in full and 24 charged off, a charge-off rate of 7.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Essex County?
1,011 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $289.6 m. Multifamily was 61.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Essex County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Essex County come from?
The largest single origin is Middlesex County, with 5,431 households. Arriving households report an average income of $106,455 against $106,913 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Essex County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Essex County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Essex County
Cities and places in Essex.
24 Census places lie wholly or partly in Essex County. All 24 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn | city | 101,709 | 105 | Wholly in this county |
| Lawrence | city | 88,736 | 141 | Wholly in this county |
| Haverhill | city | 67,698 | 88 | Wholly in this county |
| Peabody | city | 54,695 | 126 | Wholly in this county |
| Methuen | city | 53,475 | 103 | Wholly in this county |
| Salem | city | 44,795 | 132 | Wholly in this county |
| Beverly | city | 42,665 | 128 | Wholly in this county |
| Gloucester | city | 30,075 | 54 | Wholly in this county |
| Saugus | CDP | 28,773 | 50 | Wholly in this county |
| Danvers | CDP | 28,098 | 86 | Wholly in this county |
| Marblehead | CDP | 20,413 | 36 | Wholly in this county |
| Newburyport | city | 18,652 | 71 | Wholly in this county |
| Amesbury | city | 17,403 | 50 | Wholly in this county |
| Swampscott | CDP | 15,277 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Lynnfield | CDP | 13,064 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| Andover | CDP | 9,451 | 59 | Wholly in this county |
| Salisbury | CDP | 5,656 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Ipswich | CDP | 4,924 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Rockport | CDP | 4,704 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Nahant | CDP | 3,325 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Topsfield | CDP | 2,624 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Boxford | CDP | 2,284 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Rowley | CDP | 1,708 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Essex | CDP | 1,688 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
A further 196 of the county's 1,569 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Essex County, the largest being North Andover (80), Middleton (33), Georgetown (18). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.