Essex County is a county of 10,623 people in Virginia. The median age is 47.1, about 8 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. That trails the Virginia median by roughly 39%. The average commute runs 39 minutes. 4% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $56,520, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Essex County
What changed most since 1990
White share61.2% → 53.2%(−8.0 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Homes owned by their occupants78.9% → 71.7%(−7.2 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Median age37.3 → 47.1(+9.8 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.7%(125)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)26.6%(169)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.3%(205)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5%(32)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 635 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Essex County, decade by decade
Essex County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
8,689
$62,579
$162,965
16.4%
60.4
2000
9,989
$68,121
$165,953
17.4%
64.5
2010
11,151
$66,512
$266,711
16.6%
67.7
2020
10,599
$61,965
$238,166
16.2%
70.9
2024
10,623
$56,520
$238,100
16.6%
72.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
