Data Stories
Telling powerful stories with numbers
Essex County: Hit Hard by the Opioid Crisis

A national epidemic hits home.

Just about every community in Massachusetts and across the nation has been touched by the upsurge in opioid addiction and the consequences of that trend – but Essex County has been particularly hard-hit. 



Lack of Transportation Impedes Opportunity

How is limited public transportation in Essex County affecting our communities?

Essex County isn’t the easiest place to get around, especially if you don’t have a car. Public transportation is limited, with the central part of the county not served at all. While congested roads and busy rush hours can be a troubling inconvenience for many, the lack of reliable transportation can have an even bigger impact on the lives of low-income people, who may not be able to access jobs or the education they need to enter the workforce.



Affordable Housing: Out of Reach for Many

How the high cost of living impacts housing options.

If you own a home in Essex County, times have probably been good. Since 2000, the median home value has increased 29% to $409,900. If you don’t own a home, it may seem far out of reach. Essex is quite an unaffordable place to live – by both measures that are commonly used. For homeowners, affordability is assessed using a ratio of median home value to median income. Essex County’s ratio is 5.2, when the 2-3 range is considered affordable. For renters, rent is considered affordable if it takes up no more than 30% of income. In Essex County, renters are spending about 38% of their income on rent.



More powerful connections



Dashboards
Dashboards provide access to featured indicators specific to select geographies.


Map Data
Interactive map visualizations provide unique analytical power, showing variations within communities.