Essex County vs Norfolk County
Essex County, Massachusetts versus Norfolk County, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Essex County and Norfolk County score about the same overall (42 vs 43 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Essex County | Norfolk County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $94k | $121k |
| Cost of Living | $63k | $84k |
| Home Value | $535k | $612k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.14% | 1.12% |
| Income Tax | 8.98% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.51% | 16.73% |
| Unemployment | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 28°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3 in | 49.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.6 in | 50.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 193 days | 182 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 94 days | 83 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 95.6 | 92.0 |
| Air Quality | 44 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 878/100k | 596/100k |
| Property Crime | 773/100k | 819/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 806,103 | 722,112 |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 40.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.45 | 0.44 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | D+30 | D+37 |
| White (%) | 66.9% | 71.4% |
| Black (%) | 3.4% | 6.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 22.7% | 5.2% |
| Asian (%) | 3.4% | 11.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.6% | 4.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 33 min |
| Walkability | 11.8/20 | 11.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 20 mi | 18 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.2% | 93.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.58 | 2.80 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Essex County or Norfolk County more affordable?
- Essex County has the lower cost of living: its index is $63k, compared with Essex County's $63k and Norfolk County's $84k. Median rent is $2k in Essex County versus $2k in Norfolk County.
- Is Essex County or Norfolk County safer?
- Norfolk County has the lower violent crime rate. Essex County reports 878/100k and Norfolk County reports 596/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Essex County or Norfolk County?
- The median home value is $535k in Essex County and $612k in Norfolk County, so homes are more affordable in Essex County.