Cost of Living in Essex County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Essex County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Essex County ranks #3,073 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
Essex County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $1,756
Median gross rent in Essex County was estimated at $1,756 per month, which is $140 above the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of $1,616. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in the county is 33.3%, which is 1.6 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. For homeowners, the median monthly owner cost was $2,365, while the state unweighted county mean was $2,087. The median home value was estimated at $619,100, which is $15,157 below the state unweighted county mean of $634,257. Renter-household median income was $54,672. This information is derived from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Essex County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.3% of renter household income in Essex County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,756 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,365. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $70,240 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Essex County's $1,756 median is 8.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Essex County
Rent Burden
20.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,377
per month
Owner Cost Burden
27.9%
of gross income
The median home in Essex County may be a stretch
Median home value is $619,100. Estimated monthly cost: $4,942 vs. your max of $2,377.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Essex County, Massachusetts?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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