Map the Block › Places › Massachusetts › Essex County
What are the crime rate and median income in Essex County, Massachusetts?
FBI reports put Essex County at 2.5 violent crimes per 1,000 people a year over 2021-2025, 20% lower than the rate for Massachusetts (3.1). Households here have a median income of $101,883 and the unemployment rate was 4.6% in August 2026. About 813,054 people live in the county.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Essex County?
Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 2,042 violent and 6,273 property crimes per year. That is 2.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 20% lower than the Massachusetts rate (3.1), and 32% lower than the U.S. rate (3.7). Burglary, theft and car theft together come to 7.7 per 1,000 residents, compared with 10.7 across Massachusetts. Aggravated assaults make up 84% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 15 homicide deaths a year in the county (1.9 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Essex County | Per 1,000 | Massachusetts per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 2,042 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 12 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 154 | 0.19 | 0.28 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 166 | 0.20 | 0.37 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 1,710 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 6,273 | 7.7 | 10.7 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 682 | 0.84 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 5,018 | 6.2 | 8.4 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 574 | 0.70 | 1.0 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (34 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Essex County?
Median household income is $101,883, close to the statewide figure ($103,960). The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $619,100 by its owners; renters pay a median $1,756. 16.6% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 14.7%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.6% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 20,250 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Essex County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 813,054 | 7,044,056 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $101,883 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $619,100 | $562,100 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,756 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% | 10.0% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 16.6% | 14.7% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 43.0% | 47.3% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 63.5% | 62.5% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.0 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 92.4% | 92.8% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 2.8% | 2.6% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Essex County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Essex County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively High”. The hazards rated highest here are coastal flooding (Very High), tornadoes (Relatively High), river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
4 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Essex County: Creese & Cook Tannery (Former), Microfab Inc (Former), Haverhill Municipal Landfill and Groveland Wells. 1 other site has finished cleanup and been taken off the list. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
Essex County has 36 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. 8 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 28 Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Goose Cove Northwest Dike (45 ft) and Breeds Pond Outlet Dam No. 5 (44 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
41 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 54,105 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Essex County was covered by 2 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Snowstorm 1, Severe Storm 1), not counting COVID-19. In 2024, 4 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 39 community water systems, 2 had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 1 (highest). NHTSA counted 29 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 4 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Essex County?
Essex County had 36 highway work zones in the October 11, 2026 feed from the state DOT (4 active that day). Listed roads include I-495, US 1 and RT-1A. 12 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Essex County?
Essex County has 217 public schools (2024-25) and 63 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 44 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 79 fire or EMS stations and 36 police or sheriff stations. National Park Service sites here: Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. 6 state parks or recreation areas: Baldpate Pond State Park, Bradley Palmer State Park, Lawrence Heritage State Park, Lawrence Riverfront State Park and Lynn Heritage State Park and 1 more.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Essex County
Gun shops
6 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Essex County (5 from the ATF licensee list, 1 from OpenStreetMap), plus 13 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). On the ATF list: Bobs Gun Shop (Salem), New England Training Center LLC (Lawrence), Northshore Firearms (Middleton), Rocknus (Haverhill) and White Mountain Associates LLC (North Andover).
Liquor stores
125 liquor stores are on the map in Essex County: 114 Liquors Inc (Lawrence), A & B Package Store (Methuen), A and L Liquors (Peabody), Academy Liquors (Haverhill), Alileo Wines (Gloucester), Andover Classic Wines (Andover), Andover Spa Wine & Spirits (Andover), Arge's Liquors (Salem) and 117 more. Massachusetts has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
There is no Planned Parenthood health center in Essex County on the map.
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Essex County?
Essex County averaged 2,042 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 2.5 per 1,000 residents, 20% lower than the Massachusetts rate (3.1). The property-crime rate was 7.7 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Essex County?
$101,883 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $103,960 for Massachusetts and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Essex County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.6% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 20,250 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Essex County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Essex County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively High”. The hazards rated highest here are coastal flooding (Very High), tornadoes (Relatively High), river flooding (Relatively High) and hurricanes (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Essex County?
4 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Essex County: Creese & Cook Tannery (Former), Microfab Inc (Former), Haverhill Municipal Landfill and Groveland Wells. 1 other site has finished cleanup and been taken off the list.
Is there road construction in Essex County right now?
Essex County had 36 highway work zones in the October 11, 2026 feed from the state DOT (4 active that day). Listed roads include I-495, US 1 and RT-1A. 12 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Essex County?
44 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Essex County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County, NH | 426,378 | 1.6 | $103,545 |
| Middlesex County | 1,638,365 | 1.9 | $130,847 |
| Rockingham County, NH | 319,082 | 0.80 | $118,331 |
Cities in Essex County with their own page: Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill, Revere, Peabody, Methuen.
More: Massachusetts statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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