The percent change in number of residents of a geographic area since 2000.
Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities. Changes in total population are a measure of the overall health of a community and its ability to attract and retain residents.
Since 2000, the overall population in Essex County has grown over 8.5%, similar to the state increase of 8%, and much lower than the nation's increase of 16%. From 2000 to 2010, the county's population increased from about 723,500 to 743,200, and since 2010, growth has picked up, with the total population increasing to 785,200 in 2017.
The largest localities in Essex County are the cities of Lynn and Lawrence, with 94,000 and 80,000 residents in 2017, respectively. Other population centers are Haverhill (64,000), Peabody (53,000) and Methuen (50,000). The fastest growing places since 2000 were Middletown (which grew 27%), Salisbury (20%) and Georgetown (17%). The population fell in four places: Rockport (-6.7%), Nahant (-3.6%), Hamilton (-3.1%) and Gloucester (-0.4%).
Westchester, NY (6.1%) was the only county with a lesser overall rate of growth than Essex County since 2000 as Middlesex, MA and Lake, IL had rates around 9%. Lake's total population was a bit lower than Essex County's at 704,000, while Westchester and Middlesex are larger at 980,000 and 1.6 million, respectively.
Rate is percentage change from 2000. Data for this indicator are released annually in July.
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | N/A | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 8.5% |
| Amesbury | N/A | 0.5% | 0.4% | -0.1% | -0.7% | -1.2% | -1.5% | -1.7% | -1.6% | -1.3% | -1.1% | -0.2% | 0.4% | 1.7% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 6.1% |
| Beverly | N/A | 0.4% | 0.4% | -0.1% | -0.6% | -1.1% | -1.3% | -1.5% | -1.3% | -1.0% | -0.7% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 5.1% |
| Gloucester | N/A | -0.0% | -0.5% | -1.4% | -2.4% | -3.2% | -3.9% | -4.5% | -4.8% | -4.9% | -4.9% | -4.1% | -3.4% | -2.5% | -1.8% | -1.2% | -0.9% | -0.4% |
| Haverhill | N/A | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 7.2% | 7.9% |
| Lawrence | N/A | 1.4% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 7.3% | 8.2% | 8.8% | 9.9% | 10.7% | 10.9% | 11.3% |
| Lynn | N/A | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.7% |
| Methuen | N/A | 1.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.9% | 8.9% | 9.7% | 11.0% | 12.5% | 13.6% | 14.0% | 14.7% |
| Newburyport | N/A | 0.7% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.2% | -0.1% | -0.1% | -0.1% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.9% |
| Peabody | N/A | 1.4% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 6.8% | 7.4% | 8.1% | 8.5% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 9.7% |
| Salem | N/A | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 7.4% |
| Andover | N/A | 1.3% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5.7% | 7.8% | 8.8% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 12.8% | 13.3% | 14.3% |
| Boxford | N/A | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.1% | -0.2% | -0.3% | -0.4% | -0.1% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Danvers | N/A | 1.2% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 8.2% | 9.9% | 10.3% | 9.0% | 9.5% |
| Essex | N/A | 1.5% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 6.1% | 7.1% | 8.9% | 9.6% | 10.6% | 11.4% | 12.3% | 13.6% | 14.5% |
| Georgetown | N/A | 2.0% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 5.8% | 6.7% | 8.0% | 9.5% | 10.7% | 12.3% | 13.4% | 14.6% | 15.2% | 16.1% | 16.8% | 17.5% |
| Groveland | N/A | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 6.1% | 7.0% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 11.7% | 12.5% |
| Hamilton | N/A | -0.3% | -1.0% | -2.0% | -3.1% | -4.1% | -4.9% | -5.7% | -6.1% | -6.4% | -6.6% | -5.7% | -5.3% | -4.5% | -4.1% | -3.7% | -3.5% | -3.1% |
| Ipswich | N/A | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 6.8% | 7.8% |
| Lynnfield | N/A | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 9.1% | 11.4% | 12.3% | 13.0% | 13.8% |
| Manchester | N/A | 0.4% | 0.3% | -0.2% | -0.9% | -1.5% | -1.8% | -2.1% | -2.0% | -1.8% | -1.6% | -0.4% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Marblehead | N/A | 0.3% | 0.0% | -0.6% | -1.4% | -2.1% | -2.5% | -2.9% | -3.0% | -2.9% | -2.7% | -1.9% | -1.2% | -0.6% | -0.0% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Merrimac | N/A | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 4.8% | 5.8% | 7.6% | 9.2% | 10.6% | 11.7% | 12.9% |
| Middleton | N/A | 2.3% | 3.9% | 5.2% | 6.5% | 7.6% | 9.1% | 10.7% | 12.5% | 14.6% | 16.1% | 17.8% | 19.6% | 22.0% | 24.4% | 23.9% | 25.9% | 27.4% |
| Nahant | N/A | -0.2% | -0.8% | -1.7% | -2.9% | -3.9% | -4.7% | -5.4% | -5.7% | -6.0% | -6.1% | -5.5% | -5.1% | -4.4% | -4.2% | -3.7% | -3.8% | -3.6% |
| Newbury | N/A | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% | -0.5% | -0.9% | -1.1% | -1.3% | -1.1% | -0.8% | -0.5% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.7% |
| North Andover | N/A | 1.1% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 4.9% | 6.5% | 7.4% | 8.4% | 9.8% | 11.1% | 14.1% | 14.7% |
| Rockport | N/A | -0.7% | -1.8% | -3.2% | -4.7% | -6.1% | -7.3% | -8.5% | -9.3% | -10.0% | -10.5% | -9.7% | -9.1% | -8.5% | -8.0% | -7.6% | -7.1% | -6.7% |
| Rowley | N/A | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 6.4% | 7.4% | 8.5% | 9.6% | 12.6% | 14.4% | 14.5% | 14.9% |
| Salisbury | N/A | 1.3% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 5.8% | 7.1% | 8.0% | 9.0% | 10.6% | 17.6% | 18.5% | 20.0% |
| Saugus | N/A | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 3.5% | 4.7% | 6.4% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| Swampscott | N/A | 0.1% | -0.4% | -1.1% | -2.1% | -2.9% | -3.5% | -4.0% | -4.2% | -4.3% | -4.3% | -3.6% | -3.1% | -2.6% | -2.2% | 1.2% | 3.6% | 5.4% |
| Topsfield | N/A | 0.5% | 0.4% | -0.1% | -0.7% | -1.1% | -1.4% | -1.6% | -1.5% | -1.2% | -1.0% | 0.6% | 2.3% | 4.0% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 6.4% | 6.8% |
| Wenham | N/A | 1.0% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.9% | 6.4% | 8.5% | 10.0% | 12.1% | 12.4% | 13.0% | 13.5% | 14.5% |
| West Newbury | N/A | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 1.8% | 2.4% | 4.2% | 5.6% | 7.2% | 8.5% | 9.8% | 11.3% | 12.1% |
| Middlesex County, MA | N/A | 0.5% | 0.2% | -0.1% | -0.4% | -0.7% | -0.6% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 4.0% | 5.2% | 6.4% | 7.4% | 8.2% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| Lake County, IL | N/A | 2.2% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.9% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| Westchester County, NY | N/A | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.7% | 6.0% | 6.1% |
| Massachusetts | N/A | 0.8% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 5.7% | 6.4% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.0% |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 723,496 | 730,206 | 732,232 | 731,544 | 729,783 | 728,877 | 729,455 | 730,664 | 734,361 | 739,086 | 743,172 | 751,490 | 757,162 | 764,557 | 771,468 | 777,438 | 780,633 | 785,205 |
| Amesbury | 16,459 | 16,534 | 16,517 | 16,440 | 16,338 | 16,257 | 16,208 | 16,174 | 16,195 | 16,238 | 16,283 | 16,425 | 16,527 | 16,734 | 17,217 | 17,296 | 17,341 | 17,457 |
| Beverly | 39,787 | 39,962 | 39,931 | 39,756 | 39,550 | 39,362 | 39,264 | 39,210 | 39,271 | 39,407 | 39,502 | 40,086 | 40,377 | 40,845 | 41,210 | 41,529 | 41,656 | 41,816 |
| Gloucester | 30,282 | 30,278 | 30,130 | 29,872 | 29,564 | 29,301 | 29,097 | 28,918 | 28,839 | 28,797 | 28,789 | 29,053 | 29,265 | 29,521 | 29,727 | 29,913 | 30,006 | 30,172 |
| Haverhill | 58,979 | 59,563 | 59,759 | 59,732 | 59,617 | 59,573 | 59,649 | 59,777 | 60,108 | 60,523 | 60,879 | 61,499 | 61,843 | 62,270 | 62,587 | 62,896 | 63,252 | 63,639 |
| Lawrence | 72,045 | 73,024 | 73,467 | 73,634 | 73,679 | 73,823 | 74,111 | 74,458 | 75,069 | 75,775 | 76,381 | 77,291 | 77,926 | 78,416 | 79,201 | 79,784 | 79,922 | 80,162 |
| Lynn | 89,029 | 89,729 | 89,869 | 89,674 | 89,330 | 89,113 | 89,071 | 89,100 | 89,445 | 89,899 | 90,329 | 90,704 | 91,415 | 92,022 | 92,547 | 93,261 | 93,420 | 94,063 |
| Methuen | 43,801 | 44,501 | 44,854 | 45,037 | 45,142 | 45,310 | 45,565 | 45,856 | 46,310 | 46,823 | 47,252 | 47,717 | 48,036 | 48,626 | 49,292 | 49,745 | 49,915 | 50,259 |
| Newburyport | 17,214 | 17,341 | 17,362 | 17,319 | 17,251 | 17,204 | 17,191 | 17,194 | 17,255 | 17,340 | 17,416 | 17,524 | 17,579 | 17,718 | 17,850 | 17,886 | 17,946 | 18,060 |
| Peabody | 48,319 | 48,978 | 49,278 | 49,394 | 49,427 | 49,525 | 49,721 | 49,956 | 50,369 | 50,844 | 51,251 | 51,614 | 51,878 | 52,215 | 52,447 | 52,658 | 52,804 | 52,987 |
| Salem | 40,431 | 40,777 | 40,869 | 40,810 | 40,700 | 40,630 | 40,645 | 40,700 | 40,886 | 41,139 | 41,340 | 42,016 | 42,331 | 42,693 | 43,004 | 43,290 | 43,290 | 43,415 |
| Andover | 31,429 | 31,839 | 32,018 | 32,076 | 32,091 | 32,140 | 32,256 | 32,402 | 32,654 | 32,960 | 33,208 | 33,882 | 34,197 | 34,792 | 35,141 | 35,444 | 35,613 | 35,937 |
| Boxford | 7,900 | 7,958 | 7,966 | 7,943 | 7,906 | 7,882 | 7,873 | 7,870 | 7,895 | 7,930 | 7,971 | 8,039 | 8,084 | 8,146 | 8,192 | 8,236 | 8,256 | 8,310 |
| Danvers | 25,161 | 25,469 | 25,604 | 25,644 | 25,654 | 25,684 | 25,769 | 25,878 | 26,071 | 26,305 | 26,493 | 26,894 | 27,099 | 27,213 | 27,664 | 27,748 | 27,434 | 27,558 |
| Essex | 3,272 | 3,322 | 3,346 | 3,357 | 3,361 | 3,371 | 3,388 | 3,407 | 3,438 | 3,473 | 3,504 | 3,563 | 3,587 | 3,619 | 3,646 | 3,676 | 3,717 | 3,748 |
| Georgetown | 7,392 | 7,537 | 7,618 | 7,669 | 7,707 | 7,755 | 7,819 | 7,888 | 7,985 | 8,093 | 8,183 | 8,302 | 8,382 | 8,472 | 8,519 | 8,585 | 8,632 | 8,688 |
| Groveland | 6,034 | 6,125 | 6,169 | 6,189 | 6,197 | 6,216 | 6,246 | 6,280 | 6,338 | 6,403 | 6,459 | 6,518 | 6,565 | 6,614 | 6,655 | 6,709 | 6,739 | 6,789 |
| Hamilton | 8,309 | 8,282 | 8,227 | 8,144 | 8,054 | 7,968 | 7,900 | 7,838 | 7,803 | 7,777 | 7,764 | 7,836 | 7,870 | 7,935 | 7,968 | 7,998 | 8,022 | 8,051 |
| Ipswich | 12,984 | 13,086 | 13,106 | 13,078 | 13,029 | 12,997 | 12,991 | 12,996 | 13,046 | 13,113 | 13,175 | 13,452 | 13,545 | 13,640 | 13,706 | 13,814 | 13,870 | 13,995 |
| Lynnfield | 11,370 | 11,470 | 11,494 | 11,474 | 11,435 | 11,412 | 11,413 | 11,421 | 11,472 | 11,535 | 11,595 | 11,727 | 11,819 | 12,408 | 12,666 | 12,770 | 12,846 | 12,942 |
| Manchester | 5,218 | 5,241 | 5,233 | 5,206 | 5,169 | 5,141 | 5,122 | 5,108 | 5,113 | 5,123 | 5,136 | 5,196 | 5,229 | 5,272 | 5,309 | 5,338 | 5,358 | 5,393 |
| Marblehead | 20,363 | 20,419 | 20,366 | 20,236 | 20,071 | 19,939 | 19,845 | 19,767 | 19,760 | 19,776 | 19,808 | 19,978 | 20,111 | 20,251 | 20,353 | 20,432 | 20,471 | 20,554 |
| Merrimac | 6,121 | 6,186 | 6,209 | 6,208 | 6,196 | 6,194 | 6,203 | 6,217 | 6,254 | 6,298 | 6,338 | 6,417 | 6,478 | 6,589 | 6,684 | 6,767 | 6,839 | 6,913 |
| Middleton | 7,743 | 7,922 | 8,044 | 8,142 | 8,245 | 8,333 | 8,445 | 8,569 | 8,709 | 8,877 | 8,987 | 9,122 | 9,260 | 9,443 | 9,629 | 9,593 | 9,750 | 9,861 |
| Nahant | 3,632 | 3,626 | 3,604 | 3,569 | 3,527 | 3,492 | 3,463 | 3,437 | 3,424 | 3,415 | 3,410 | 3,432 | 3,445 | 3,473 | 3,481 | 3,497 | 3,494 | 3,502 |
| Newbury | 6,698 | 6,735 | 6,732 | 6,705 | 6,666 | 6,637 | 6,621 | 6,610 | 6,623 | 6,644 | 6,666 | 6,735 | 6,781 | 6,858 | 6,916 | 6,971 | 7,020 | 7,079 |
| North Andover | 27,035 | 27,341 | 27,474 | 27,508 | 27,515 | 27,536 | 27,617 | 27,724 | 27,919 | 28,158 | 28,352 | 28,782 | 29,040 | 29,294 | 29,682 | 30,026 | 30,845 | 31,013 |
| Rockport | 7,766 | 7,711 | 7,630 | 7,521 | 7,400 | 7,289 | 7,196 | 7,106 | 7,042 | 6,987 | 6,952 | 7,010 | 7,057 | 7,104 | 7,147 | 7,174 | 7,212 | 7,246 |
| Rowley | 5,505 | 5,583 | 5,618 | 5,633 | 5,638 | 5,652 | 5,675 | 5,703 | 5,752 | 5,808 | 5,856 | 5,914 | 5,972 | 6,036 | 6,198 | 6,298 | 6,304 | 6,325 |
| Salisbury | 7,833 | 7,938 | 7,985 | 8,001 | 8,002 | 8,015 | 8,044 | 8,080 | 8,145 | 8,219 | 8,289 | 8,388 | 8,458 | 8,541 | 8,663 | 9,212 | 9,284 | 9,400 |
| Saugus | 26,127 | 26,350 | 26,403 | 26,357 | 26,267 | 26,214 | 26,213 | 26,234 | 26,347 | 26,493 | 26,628 | 27,036 | 27,366 | 27,810 | 27,951 | 28,076 | 28,121 | 28,251 |
| Swampscott | 14,399 | 14,408 | 14,348 | 14,235 | 14,099 | 13,983 | 13,896 | 13,821 | 13,793 | 13,783 | 13,787 | 13,880 | 13,951 | 14,029 | 14,085 | 14,575 | 14,911 | 15,177 |
| Topsfield | 6,141 | 6,170 | 6,165 | 6,137 | 6,099 | 6,071 | 6,054 | 6,042 | 6,051 | 6,068 | 6,079 | 6,178 | 6,282 | 6,388 | 6,494 | 6,524 | 6,536 | 6,560 |
| Wenham | 4,583 | 4,627 | 4,653 | 4,666 | 4,691 | 4,698 | 4,722 | 4,756 | 4,793 | 4,852 | 4,875 | 4,973 | 5,041 | 5,139 | 5,150 | 5,177 | 5,203 | 5,246 |
| West Newbury | 4,135 | 4,174 | 4,184 | 4,178 | 4,166 | 4,160 | 4,162 | 4,167 | 4,187 | 4,211 | 4,235 | 4,307 | 4,366 | 4,431 | 4,487 | 4,540 | 4,604 | 4,637 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,465,244 | 1,473,021 | 1,468,488 | 1,464,083 | 1,459,232 | 1,454,868 | 1,456,528 | 1,463,106 | 1,477,049 | 1,494,764 | 1,503,017 | 1,524,191 | 1,541,428 | 1,559,027 | 1,573,084 | 1,584,914 | 1,594,314 | 1,602,947 |
| Lake County, IL | 644,682 | 658,986 | 668,022 | 668,760 | 677,735 | 684,419 | 689,891 | 692,995 | 697,369 | 701,042 | 703,395 | 701,519 | 702,159 | 704,424 | 704,558 | 704,945 | 704,935 | 703,520 |
| Westchester County, NY | 923,621 | 931,577 | 935,219 | 935,799 | 935,457 | 933,401 | 931,426 | 933,414 | 937,449 | 944,201 | 949,201 | 957,693 | 962,190 | 968,910 | 972,742 | 976,103 | 978,604 | 980,244 |
| Massachusetts | 6,349,364 | 6,397,634 | 6,417,206 | 6,422,565 | 6,412,281 | 6,403,290 | 6,410,084 | 6,431,559 | 6,468,967 | 6,517,613 | 6,547,808 | 6,612,178 | 6,659,627 | 6,711,138 | 6,757,925 | 6,794,002 | 6,823,721 | 6,859,819 |
