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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Essex County

Virginia · 10,599 residents · 257 sq mi
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The short version

Essex County is home to 10,599 people in Virginia. The median age is 48.6, about 10 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 16% of adults. That trails the Virginia median by roughly 33%. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 36 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 48.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

10,599
+6%since 2000
from 9,989 in 2000
1990 – 2025
48.6
+21%since 2000
from 40.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
257 sq mi
Population, 19902024
8K9K10K11K11K19902000201020202024Essex County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.4%(463)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(525)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.9%(628)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.7%(604)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(491)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.3%(1,089)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.4%(1,099)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.5%(1,330)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6416.7%(1,766)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.7%(1,560)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.4%(789)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(255)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$51,125
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,395 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$26,114
+45%since 2000
from $17,994 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
15.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.4%
US avg: 10%
Information14.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade10.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance9.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services8.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services4.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$196,500
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$887
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $539 in 2000
US average: $1,124
70.8%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.3% in 2000
29.2% rent
2.37 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.8
−1%since 2009
from 3.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic57.7%(5,762)
Black38.8%(3,879)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(72)
Asian0.8%(81)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic55.4%(5,871)
Black35.3%(3,743)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(369)
Asian0.6%(62)
Other1.9%(203)
22
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican2.8%(308)
Mexican0.3%(37)
Colombian0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(51)
Korean0%(2)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(2)
Ancestry
English11.6%(1,270)
German8.2%(894)
Irish6%(656)
American6%(655)
Italian4.3%(474)
Scottish1.6%(177)
French1.5%(159)
Greek1.1%(117)
Polish1%(110)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(104)
British0.9%(94)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.7%(73)
Norwegian0.4%(49)
Czech0.4%(45)
Austrian0.4%(42)
Nigerian0.3%(32)
Iranian0.2%(20)
Russian0.2%(20)
Lebanese0.1%(11)
Croatian0.1%(9)
Swedish0.1%(8)
Section 05

Education

16.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.8%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
4.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

36.3 min
+36%since 2000
from 26.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
81.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
4.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

8.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
57.5%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
68.7%
US average: 73.3%
28.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

45.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
54.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
1.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
10.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
82.9%
US average: 91.9%
90.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married29.3%(1,184)
Married58.5%(2,365)
Widowed4.7%(191)
Divorced7.5%(303)
Women 15+
Never married25.3%(1,252)
Married45.4%(2,245)
Widowed12.6%(621)
Divorced16.7%(825)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

10.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
43.9%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
17.8%
US average: 13.7%
24.7%
US average: 17.6%
23.2%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
61.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
46.2%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)4.2%(27)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)15.3%(99)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era46.7%(303)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.7%(63)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II5.1%(33)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 649 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Essex County, Virginia?

Essex County, Virginia has about 10,599 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Essex County, Virginia?

The typical household in Essex County, Virginia earns about $51,125 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Essex County, Virginia expensive?

In Essex County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $196,500, and the typical rent is about $887 a month.

How educated are people in Essex County, Virginia?

About 16.2% of adults age 25 and over in Essex County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Essex County, Virginia?

About 15.0% of people in Essex County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Essex County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Essex County, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,910 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →