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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Essex County

Virginia · 10,599 residents · 257.354 sq mi
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The short version

Essex County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $51,125. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $196,500. With a median age of 48.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.8. Households here earn about 33% less than the Virginia median.

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

Total population
10,599
+6%since 2000
from 9,989 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
48.6
+21%since 2000
from 40.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K9K10K11K11K1990201020202024Essex 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

Median household income
$51,125
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,395 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$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%
Poverty rate
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

Median home value
$196,500
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$887
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $539 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
70.8%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.3% in 2000
29.2% rent
Afford Score
3.8
−1%since 2009
from 3.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Essex County on RentDataNow
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)
Segregation Score
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)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
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%
Graduate degree
4.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
36.3 min
+36%since 2000
from 26.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.5%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.6%
−35.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Female
54.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.2%
−76.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Essex County

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Pop 10,907
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Pop 10,309
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Pop 10,161
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Pop 10,455
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Head to head

Compare Essex County to nearby counties

ESSEX COUNTY VS
Richmond County
Income$66,304+30%
Home value$231,500+18%
Population9,294−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESSEX COUNTY VS
Westmoreland County
Income$63,398+24%
Home value$269,600+37%
Population19,715+85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESSEX COUNTY VS
King and Queen County
Income$70,469+38%
Home value$231,600+18%
Population6,743−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESSEX COUNTY VS
King William County
Income$86,056+68%
Home value$315,700+61%
Population19,617+84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9507Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9508
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 22560ZIP 22454ZIP 22436ZIP 22438ZIP 22504ZIP 22476ZIP 22509
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →