Essex, Chittenden County, Vermont Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Essex, Vermont, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Essex, Vermont. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Essex, Vermont. The estimated population of Essex, Vermont is 21,851 people, with a median age of 41.7.

We can look at the total population in Essex over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
21,851
+0.83%
+4.55%
2020
21,672
+0.95%
-
2019
21,467
+1.14%
-
2018
21,225
+1.55%
-
2017
20,901
- -

Population of Essex, Vermont by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
86.8%
89.1%
-2.58%
Black/African American
3.8%
2%
+90.00%
Native
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%
Hispanic
1.3%
2.1%
-38.10%
Asian
3.5%
5%
-30.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
4.4%
1.6%
+175.00%
Other
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Essex, Vermont by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 41.7 +0.24% 39.7 +1.02% 44.6 +0.45%
2020 41.6 +3.48% 39.3 +2.61% 44.4 +4.96%
2019 40.2 -0.5% 38.3 -3.28% 42.3 +1.93%
2018 40.4 -0.98% 39.6 -1.25% 41.5 -0.72%
2017 40.8 - 40.1 - 41.8 -

The median age of Essex, Vermont gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,415 +5.29% 1,111 +8.07% 1,435 1,202
10 to 19 1,292 -3.05% 1,190 +13.85% 1,221 1,355
20 to 29 1,279 +11.06% 1,292 -10.18% 1,409 1,135
30 to 39 1,187 +6.72% 1,455 -14.65% 1,212 1,251
40 to 49 1,594 +11.91% 1,399 +16.26% 1,775 1,624
50 to 59 1,661 -27.12% 1,858 -3.92% 1,245 1,780
60 to 69 1,048 +5.13% 1,239 +19.35% 1,101 1,494
70+ 882 +25.08% 999 +44.07% 1,108 1,504

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Essex, Vermont is $88,136.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Essex.

  • Under 25
    $42,955.00
  • 25 to 44
    $96,625.00
  • 45 to 64
    $103,293.00
  • 65 and over
    $68,469.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Essex, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Essex, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Essex, Vermont is currently $108,978.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

10.68% of households in Essex are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Essex against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    10.85%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    16.69%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    16.46%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.37%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    22.71%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    11.24%
  • $200,000 or more
    10.68%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Essex is $45,898.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Essex by the total population of Essex.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Essex, Vermont, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Essex to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    24.81%
  • Bachelor's degree
    45.51%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    7.19%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    20.34%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.15%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Essex that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Essex over the age of 16 is 17,543.

Of those people, a total of 70.80% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Essex is 68.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 905 46.00% 9.40%
20 to 24 years 1,246 82.70% 12.70%
25 to 29 years 1,298 94.10% 2.60%
30 to 34 years 1,280 91.80% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 3,145 91.50% 2.00%
45 to 54 years 3,126 87.90% 0.30%
55 to 59 years 1,336 87.60% 4.40%
60 to 64 years 1,258 74.70% 1.20%
65 to 74 years 2,238 35.40% 0.40%
75 years and over 1,711 3.20% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Essex. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 15,536 70.70% 2.90%
Black or African American 579 81.30% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 14 21.40% 0.00%
Asian 730 65.80% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 159 76.10% 0.00%
Two or more races 525 70.50% 5.10%
Hispanic or Latino 257 74.70% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 15,429 70.60% 2.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Essex as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Essex is 12,028, with median earnings of $49,621.00.

Women in Essex, Vermont earning approximately 71.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 12,028 $49,621.00
Male 5,939 $55,865.00
Female 6,089 $39,904.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,648 $78,816.00
Business and Financial 834 $58,942.00
Computer and Mathematical 707 $91,023.00
Architecture and Engineering 352 $78,300.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 62 $57,250.00
Community and Social Service 367 $46,232.00
Legal 114 $73,125.00
Educational and Library 1,272 $74,258.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 221 $46,193.00
Healthcare Practitioners 736 $87,188.00
Healthcare Support 194 $26,324.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 37 $25,089.00
Law Enforcement 35 $88,950.00
Food Preparation and Serving 506 $17,500.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 287 $13,207.00
Personal Care and Service 304 $26,667.00
Sales 880 $32,891.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,500 $48,898.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 95 $20,754.00
Construction and Extraction 307 $39,514.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 265 $56,583.00
Production 795 $32,241.00
Transportation and Material Moving 160 $41,105.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 893 $84,806.00 755 $64,904.00
Business and Financial 435 $56,504.00 399 $63,059.00
Computer and Mathematical 614 $93,343.00 93 $57,951.00
Architecture and Engineering 290 $78,611.00 62 $78,125.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 13 $0.00 49 $60,655.00
Community and Social Service 108 $46,893.00 259 $43,598.00
Legal 7 $0.00 107 $74,219.00
Educational and Library 400 $82,277.00 872 $49,450.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 103 $52,344.00 118 $42,903.00
Healthcare Practitioners 206 $112,292.00 530 $72,604.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 194 $26,324.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 19 $0.00 18 $6,250.00
Law Enforcement 35 $88,950.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 218 $25,690.00 288 $12,823.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 92 $21,667.00 195 $7,479.00
Personal Care and Service 43 $42,663.00 261 $26,589.00
Sales 488 $42,500.00 392 $21,563.00
Office and Administrative Support 468 $53,696.00 1,032 $44,750.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 30 $0.00 65 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 307 $39,514.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 252 $56,222.00 13 $0.00
Production 509 $35,932.00 286 $14,748.00
Transportation and Material Moving 160 $41,105.00 0 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 9,315 households in Essex, with an average household size of 2.34 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 6,155 families in Essex with an average family size of 2.86 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 4,737 338 1,080 3,160
Average Household Size 2.91 3.28 2.86 1.21
Total Families 4,737 338 1,080 0
Average Household Size 2.9 3.01 2.65 0

Poverty

Of the 6,155 families in Essex, 4.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Essex:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 9,497 housing units in Essex, Vermont.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 9,315 98.08%
Vacant 182 1.92%

32.65% of the total 9,497 housing units in Essex are rental units. This is approximately 3,101 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 6,214 are occupied by the owner - or 65.43% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Essex is $1,352.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Essex that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    0
  • Less than $500
    208
  • $500 to $999
    244
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    1,487
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    1,020
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    134
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    8
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Essex is $324,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Essex that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    51
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    10
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    221
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    396
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,820
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    3,417
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    299
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Essex. The chart below shows the number of properties in Essex that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    678
  • 1940 to 1949
    126
  • 1950 to 1959
    805
  • 1960 to 1969
    842
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,885
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,628
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,068
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,132
  • 2010 to 2013
    1,312
  • 2014 or later
    21

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Essex that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    619
  • 1 vehicle available
    3,338
  • 2 vehicles available
    4,053
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,305

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Essex get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Essex that commute to work in a particular way.

21.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Essex.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    102
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,503
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,299
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,956
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    2,108
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    810
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,387
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    182
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    360
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    577
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    150
  • 90 or more minutes
    83

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Essex, Vermont in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.