Essex County vs Worcester County
Essex County, Massachusetts versus Worcester 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 Worcester County score about the same overall (42 vs 42 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Essex County | Worcester County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $94k | $89k |
| Cost of Living | $63k | $58k |
| Home Value | $535k | $363k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.14% | 1.36% |
| Income Tax | 8.98% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.51% | 16.62% |
| Unemployment | 5.3% | 5.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 28°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3 in | 48.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.6 in | 68.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 193 days | 197 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 94 days | 88 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 95.6 | 93.5 |
| Air Quality | 44 AQI | 39 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 878/100k | 908/100k |
| Property Crime | 773/100k | 875/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 806,103 | 858,898 |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 40.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.45 | 0.38 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | D+30 | D+18 |
| White (%) | 66.9% | 73.4% |
| Black (%) | 3.4% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 22.7% | 12.5% |
| Asian (%) | 3.4% | 5.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.6% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 29 min |
| Walkability | 11.8/20 | 9.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 20 mi | 45 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.2% | 90.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.58 | 0.42 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
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 Worcester County more affordable?
- Worcester County has the lower cost of living: its index is $58k, compared with Essex County's $63k and Worcester County's $58k. Median rent is $2k in Essex County versus $1k in Worcester County.
- Is Essex County or Worcester County safer?
- Essex County has the lower violent crime rate. Essex County reports 878/100k and Worcester County reports 908/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Essex County or Worcester County?
- The median home value is $535k in Essex County and $363k in Worcester County, so homes are more affordable in Worcester County.