IMPACT ESSEX COUNTY OVERVIEW

Coming out of the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, perhaps the fastest growing challenge in Essex County is rising costs. Inflation has pushed the estimated income needed to support a single-parent family with two children to $120,800 a year (up from $85,000 2 years ago). The median value of a home in the county rose from $409,000 in 2012-16 to almost $463,000.

The refreshed data also points to potential concerns within the educational sector, including higher rates of school absence, lower enrollment in prekindergarten programs, and lower test performance on some assessments, particularly among students of color and those who are economically disadvantaged.

READ OVERVIEW | PDF