Racial Equity
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21


Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21

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 overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households. Examining income for different racial and ethnic groups is important as a measure of inequity.

How is our county doing?

In 2017-21, median income was substantially lower among African American ($63,900) and Hispanic ($52,400) households, and higher among white ($93,500) and Asian ($121,900) households. After inflation, Asian households saw the largest increase since 2000 (32%), compared to smaller increases among African American (14%), Hispanic (19%) and white (6%) households.

The state had similar disparities in 2017-21. African American households in Essex earned more than in Massachusetts as a whole ($60,200), and Hispanics in Essex also earned slightly more than at the state level ($52,100). Earnings for white Massachusetts residents were similar to Essex, while Asians in Essex earned more than the state median ($108,600). Compared to national medians, most groups in Essex earned more except Hispanic households, who fared better at the national level ($58,800). Among Essex County's cities, median income for Hispanic households was lower than the County median in Lawrence ($45,800), but higher than the County median in Lynn ($52,600), Methuen ($55,400), and Haverhill ($58,200).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's disparities were similar to the comparison counties. Essex County had lower median incomes for every racial and ethnic group than the comparison counties, with the exception of African Americans in Lake, IL ($52,500).

Why do these disparities exist?

These large and persistent disparities in income are the result of historic and current policies and practices that disadvantaged people of color. Research has connected slavery and the inability of black Americans even after emancipation to fully participate in economic life to the wealth and income gaps still present today. Structural racism perpetuated by policies and practices that systematically disadvantage African American and Latino communities include inequitable education, low wages, job and wage discrimination, lack of access to capital, and globalization. Even when a recovery from the current economic crisis occurs, it is not expected to make up for the pre-existing racial disparities experienced over time unless policies are enacted to address these gaps.

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, by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA$121,906$63,853$52,435$93,533
AmesburyN/A******N/A******N/A******$89,766
Beverly$86,607**$57,800**$59,852******$92,765
Gloucester$69,107******$53,148******$79,310**$83,055
Haverhill$95,398$69,728****$58,175$79,675
Lawrence$98,846******$57,171****$45,769$52,685
Lynn$67,708**$55,405$52,644$67,203
Methuen$109,885******$91,563$55,359$93,715
NewburyportN/A******N/A******$110,970**$113,536
Peabody$121,087$55,982****$66,458**$84,375
Salem$129,500******$43,989******$46,985******$76,364
Andover$189,382$250,001$121,278**$142,304
BoxfordN/A******N/A******N/A******$188,846
Danvers$106,771****N/A******$64,539**$105,987
EssexN/A******N/A******N/A******$116,027
GeorgetownN/A******N/A******$78,944**$127,944
GrovelandN/A******N/A******N/A******$121,682
HamiltonN/A******N/A******N/A******$120,357
Ipswich$97,391******N/A******$44,730****$113,609
Lynnfield$209,423**N/A******$56,293******$144,410
ManchesterN/A******N/A******N/A******$192,910
Marblehead$191,806******N/A******N/A******$152,772
MerrimacN/A******N/A******N/A******$87,908**
Middleton$250,001N/A******N/A******$154,625
Nahant$145,556******N/A******N/A******$99,375
NewburyN/A******N/A******N/A******$143,646**
North Andover$173,451N/A******$69,112****$121,322
RockportN/A******N/A******N/A******$89,646
RowleyN/A******N/A******N/A******$123,214
SalisburyN/A******N/A******$73,891$100,348
Saugus$107,246$72,688******$93,351****$93,999
Swampscott$143,553******N/A******$102,760**$113,582
TopsfieldN/A******N/A******$250,001$154,239
WenhamN/A******N/A******N/A******$153,182
West NewburyN/A******N/A******$250,001$152,356
Middlesex County, MA$126,462$71,138$71,835$115,373
Lake County, IL$133,326$52,495$67,619$104,218
Westchester County, NY$148,089$69,421$75,894$124,186
Massachusetts$108,555$60,232$52,106$94,510
United States$98,367$46,401$58,791$73,533

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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.








Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity, 2000
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA$92,434$55,798$44,219$88,158
Beverly$100,570$74,411$44,943$88,197
Gloucester$84,711$76,309$60,654$77,713
Haverhill$98,774$69,351$61,897$81,577
Lawrence$77,145$49,811$40,455$48,474
Lynn$65,218$51,292$46,088$65,082
Methuen$116,063$60,485$57,580$81,722
Newburyport$95,555$59,469$122,309$95,103
Peabody$84,089$76,834$42,235$91,741
Salem$83,357$66,375$51,188$74,165
Andover$163,760$52,280$100,231$142,731
Boxford$183,713$0$325,296$184,448
Danvers$139,133$78,783$119,583$95,222
Essex$118,210$0$0$97,226
Georgetown$0$0$0$124,105
Groveland$0$58,960$0$113,232
Hamilton$53,732$163,324$186,003$119,500
Ipswich$57,605$0$79,290$93,464
Lynnfield$325,296$166,329$140,698$130,054
Manchester$0$0$0$119,492
Marblehead$96,024$102,163$207,375$120,699
Merrimac$14,232$0$14,232$96,098
Middleton$7,918$0$0$132,437
Nahant$149,484$50,827$63,026$103,618
Newbury$0$203,746$325,296$122,112
North Andover$191,517$76,932$37,815$116,172
Rockport$63,026$26,430$63,026$83,643
Rowley$147,939$0$0$100,877
Salisbury$75,224$88,716$63,026$80,392
Saugus$51,722$42,383$101,908$91,175
Swampscott$63,026$95,758$29,558$116,390
Topsfield$11,907$0$0$157,465
Wenham$0$0$0$147,235
West Newbury$0$130,911$10,165$152,031
Middlesex County, MA$101,248$66,659$62,795$101,456
Lake County, IL$133,190$61,429$75,260$115,361
Westchester County, NY$141,327$64,158$67,137$117,334
Massachusetts$83,394$54,856$44,403$85,300
United States$84,427$47,856$54,773$72,682

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%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.








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