The number of deaths per year, expressed as an age-adjusted rate per 10,000 residents.
Mortality rates are a measure of the overall health of a community, particularly since some of the most common causes of death, such as heart disease, can be prevented or mitigated through lifestyle changes, prevention efforts, early intervention, and better health care.
In 2020, Essex County's mortality rate was 78 per 10,000 residents, an increase of 15% from 2019, but a long term decrease of 3% since 2000. Essex had a higher rate than the state (66 per 10,000 residents) and a lower rate than the nation (84 per 10,000 residents).
The mortality rate for Essex County in 2020 was higher than Lake, IL (71 per 10,000 residents), Westchester, NY (69) and Middlesex (68). Essex County's increase from 2019 were similar to Lake County (15%), and Middlesex (16%) and smaller than Westchester (33%).
Rates have been adjusted for differences in age and gender among the geographies.
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 80 | 80 | 81 | 79 | 76 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 70 | 67 | 66 | 67 | 65 | 65 | 66 | 69 | 67 | 69 | 69 | 68 | 78 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 78 | 76 | 76 | 72 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 58 | 68 |
| Lake County, IL | 81 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 71 | 70 | 68 | 67 | 64 | 65 | 62 | 65 | 62 | 63 | 63 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 71 |
| Westchester County, NY | 72 | 72 | 69 | 67 | 66 | 64 | 63 | 61 | 60 | 57 | 57 | 58 | 55 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 52 | 69 |
| Massachusetts | 82 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 76 | 74 | 73 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 68 | 67 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 66 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 6,540 | 6,548 | 6,661 | 6,613 | 6,407 | 6,137 | 6,217 | 6,350 | 6,257 | 6,082 | 6,088 | 6,233 | 6,228 | 6,294 | 6,510 | 6,920 | 6,692 | 7,045 | 7,142 | 7,156 | 8,357 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 11,859 | 11,717 | 11,760 | 11,247 | 10,998 | 11,001 | 10,892 | 10,632 | 10,654 | 10,602 | 10,685 | 11,062 | 10,775 | 10,804 | 11,030 | 11,549 | 11,476 | 11,639 | 11,784 | 11,686 | 13,665 |
| Lake County, IL | 3,673 | 3,787 | 3,852 | 3,875 | 3,883 | 3,877 | 3,930 | 3,919 | 3,996 | 3,951 | 4,045 | 4,074 | 4,330 | 4,277 | 4,454 | 4,557 | 4,503 | 4,692 | 4,776 | 4,835 | 5,736 |
| Westchester County, NY | 7,444 | 7,606 | 7,366 | 7,277 | 7,235 | 7,131 | 7,099 | 7,008 | 6,958 | 6,690 | 6,795 | 7,059 | 6,905 | 7,184 | 7,132 | 7,108 | 7,135 | 7,168 | 7,367 | 7,221 | 9,641 |
| Massachusetts | 56,681 | 56,754 | 56,928 | 56,291 | 54,511 | 53,874 | 53,450 | 52,917 | 53,518 | 52,308 | 52,583 | 53,710 | 53,177 | 54,567 | 55,200 | 57,806 | 56,961 | 58,803 | 59,152 | 58,630 | 58,630 |
