What does this measure?

Median household income, in 2024 dollars. Half of incomes are below the median and half are above.

Why is this important?

Median household income is a gauge of the overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households.

How is our county doing?

In 2020-24, the median household income in Essex County was $101,900, a 12% increase from $91,100 in 2010-14. The state had a higher median household income at $104,000 and the nation was substantially lower, at $80,700. Essex County's 12% increase in median household income since 2010-14 is lower than an increase of 16% at the state level and 14% at the national level.

Among Essex County municipalities with statistically reliable data, Boxford had the highest median income, at $200,900, followed by Topsfield, at $195,700. Lawrence had the lowest median income by far, at $60,400, followed by Lynn at $75,000. Ipswich had the largest percentage increase in Essex County since 2010-14, rising 34%, from $103,200 to $138,800.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had the lowest median household income among the comparison counties, as Lake, IL was at $110,400, Westchester, NY was at $119,000, and Middlesex, MA was at $130,800 in 2020-24. The 12% increase in Essex County's median income since 2010-14 was smaller than the 18% in Middlesex but larger than the 8% increase in Westchester and 7% increase in Lake County, IL.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2024 dollars. The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with 3 asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.