What does this measure?

The percentage change of residents within a geographic area, broken down by racial and ethnic groups.

Why is this important?

Population measures provide insight on the changing size and face of communities. The racial and ethnic composition of a community can offer insight into its levels of diversity, which can bring with it challenges and opportunities.

Overall, the U.S. population has become more diverse as a result of long-term immigration and natural demographic forces. While immigration at the national level has slowed due to recent policy shifts, several decades of steady immigration both increased and diversified the nation's population. Furthermore, racial and ethnic minority populations are expanding through higher birth-to-death ratios, while the aging non-Hispanic White demographic is experiencing a contraction as deaths outpace births.

How is our county doing?

Essex County has grown far more diverse since 2010-14. Its Hispanic population grew the fastest, 47%, from about 133,500 residents in 2010-14 to 195,600 in 2020-24. The African American population increased 14%, from 28,700 to 32,800, and the Asian population grew 15%, from 25,600 to 29,500. The White population decreased 9% and still makes up a large majority, with 551,100 residents.

Essex County had higher percentages of growth among its Hispanic and African American populations compared to Massachusetts (37% and 3%, respectively) but saw a smaller increase in its Asian population compared to the state (34%). Racial and ethnic minority populations also increased at the national level, but at a slower pace than either Essex or Massachusetts, except for the Asian population in which Essex has had the slowest growth. The U.S. also experienced the largest decline in the White population (-12%) during this period.

White residents were the largest racial group in every municipality in Essex County in 2020-24, except for Lawrence and Lynn. Lawrence is a particular center for the Hispanic population with about 73,900 Hispanic residents (who may be of any race, including white; see note below) and accounted for approximately 38% of all Hispanic residents in Essex County. Lynn accounted for nearly 24% of the County's Hispanic population.

How do we compare to similar counties?

No comparison county had an increase in Hispanic population as large as Essex between 2010-14 and 2020-24. Only Middlesex, MA was close, with a 39% increase, followed by Westchester, NY (25%) and Lake, IL (23%). Essex also had the largest growth in its African American population. Middlesex's growth (9%) was closest to Essex, and this population saw decreases in Westchester (-1%) and Lake (-2%). Compared to Essex, there was a similar increase in the Asian population in Westchester (16%) and larger increases in Lake (35%) and Middlesex (44%). All comparison counties saw decreases in the White population (-11% to -22%).

Notes about the data

Rate is percentage change from 2010-14. The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.

The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.