Financial Self-Sufficiency
Median Household Income


Median Household Income

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What does this measure?

Median household income, in 2021 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 2017-21, the median household income in Essex County was $86,700, a 8% increase from $80,000 in 2012-16 and a 3% increase from 2000 (after inflation). The state had a higher median household income at $89,000 and the nation was substantially lower, at $69,000. Essex County's 3% increase in median household income since 2000 compares with an increase of 8% at the state level and a 1% at the national level.

Within Essex County, Manchester had the highest median income, at $193,300, followed by Boxford, at $187,800. Lawrence had the lowest median income by far, at $47,500, followed by Lynn at $63,900. Manchester had the largest percentage increase in Essex County since 2000, rising 62%, from $119,500 to $193,300.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had the lowest median household income among the comparison counties, as Lake, IL was at $97,100, Westchester, NY was at $105,400, and Middlesex, MA was at $111,800 in 2017-21. The 3% increase in Essex County's median income since 2000 was smaller than the 13% in Middlesex and the 2% increase in Westchester. Lake County, IL experienced an 11% decrease in median income.

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2021 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. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Median Household Income
20002007-112012-162017-21
Essex County, MA$83,887$79,247$80,031$86,684
Amesbury$95,519$85,648$87,433
Beverly$87,803$81,594$83,365$89,882
Gloucester$77,618$71,147$72,163$82,984
Haverhill$81,052$73,014$70,846$75,130
Lawrence$45,514$37,920$41,496$47,542
Lynn$60,771$53,446$57,324$63,922
Methuen$80,717$79,264$82,001$87,137
Newburyport$95,241$97,408$98,407$115,807
Peabody$89,178$78,869$72,337$83,570
Salem$71,618$67,704$68,975$72,884
Andover$142,614$137,252$151,995$155,252
Boxford$184,136$165,227$173,391$187,813
Danvers$95,602$94,676$90,222$105,654
Essex$96,863$95,759*$117,135$116,027
Georgetown$124,035$128,613$119,693$129,153
Groveland$112,498$109,718$108,963$121,711
Hamilton$117,106$125,010$129,731$116,699
Ipswich$93,171$101,923$87,823$111,701
Lynnfield$131,136$122,778$132,376$147,237
Manchester$119,492$138,098$104,551$193,279
Marblehead$120,307$119,951$116,455$154,049
Merrimac$95,461$92,680$87,477*$88,832*
Middleton$132,387$112,531$120,043$155,482
Nahant$104,179$93,050*$81,994$99,456
Newbury$121,719$107,342$104,381$152,356*
North Andover$118,290$114,680$115,168$120,954
Rockport$82,399$86,068*$77,278$88,377
Rowley$101,053$95,707*$96,526$124,196
Salisbury$80,201$82,149$73,777$92,048
Saugus$89,945$90,659$88,483$93,737
Swampscott$115,624$108,596$116,563$114,086
Topsfield$156,841$139,885$144,833$155,208
Wenham$147,235$168,476$112,195$154,375
West Newbury$150,982$126,404*$156,872$164,250
Middlesex County, MA$98,924$95,999$100,503$111,790
Lake County, IL$108,930$95,969$90,192$97,127
Westchester County, NY$103,414$97,244$97,350$105,387
Massachusetts$82,140$79,483$80,108$89,026
United States$68,302$63,559$62,459$69,021

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures are in constant 2021 dollars. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.








INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable