Racial Equity
Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21


Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21

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.

How is our county doing?

Essex County has grown far more diverse since 2000. Its Hispanic population grew the fastest, 123%, from about 79,900 residents in 2000 to 178,300 in 2017-21. The African American population increased 90%, from 18,800 to 35,700, and the Asian population grew 63%, from 16,900 to 27,600. The white population decreased 3% and still makes up a large majority, with 607,400 residents.

Massachusetts experienced similar changes, but compared to Essex, it had smaller increases in its Hispanic and African American populations (102% and 49%, respectively) and a larger increase in its Asian population (102%). Racial and ethnic minority populations also increased at the national level, but at a slower pace than either Essex or Massachusetts. Unlike the County or state, the U.S. also experienced an 6% increase in the white population during this period.

While white residents were the largest racial group in every municipality in Essex County in 2017-21, some places were more diverse than others. Lawrence is a particular center for the Hispanic population: with about 72,200 Hispanic residents (who may be of any race, including white; see note below), the City accounted for approximately 41% of all Hispanic residents in Essex County. Lynn accounted for nearly 23% 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 2000 and 2017-21. Only Middlesex, MA was close, with an 102% increase, followed by Westchester, NY (75%) and Lake, IL (72%). Middlesex's growth in its African American population (69%) was closest to Essex, and increases were substantially smaller in Westchester (11%) and Lake (7%). Compared to Essex, there were larger increases in the Asian population in both Lake (134%) and Middlesex (125%), and less growth for this group in Westchester (47%). All counties saw decreases in white population (3% to 9%).

Why do these disparities exist?

The composition of the U.S. population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse as people of color grow in representation and will be a majority within the next two decades. Latino, Asian and multiracial groups are experiencing the largest growth with Latino's rapid increase caused largely by immigration. Latino immigrants who enter the U.S. tend to be younger and of child-bearing age. Latinas in the U.S. have higher fertility rates than Black and white women. Black, Latino and multiracial populations are also experiencing higher rates of births relative to deaths, while whites are experiencing the opposite.

Notes about the data

Rate is percentage change from 2000. 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. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA63%90%123%-3%
Beverly124%****173%****249%**-1%
Gloucester119%******239%******156%****-7%
Haverhill31%****77%**203%-5%
Lawrence-22%**31%68%-5%
Lynn-15%55%156%-18%
Methuen126%**476%**261%-13%
Newburyport158%******1%******200%******2%
Peabody9%****295%**277%4%
Salem68%****83%**73%4%
Andover226%191%******413%**-4%
Boxford74%******-100%******210%******-0%
Danvers135%****729%******645%****3%
Essex-100%******-100%******-17%******13%
Georgetown97%******109%******298%******11%
Groveland58%******-100%******779%******10%
Hamilton28%****46%******13%******-12%
Ipswich211%******245%******276%******0%
Lynnfield198%**452%******132%******2%
Manchester190%******-100%******140%******-3%
Marblehead65%******-6%******380%****-2%
Merrimac341%******-100%******75%******4%
Middleton53%******49%******11%**20%
Nahant-15%******264%******-69%******-10%
Newbury277%******-100%******136%******-3%
North Andover99%**247%******400%**1%
Rockport-74%******0%******34%******-12%
Rowley128%******362%******-96%******10%
Salisbury715%******203%******588%****6%
Saugus339%**771%****679%**-3%
Swampscott293%******72%******363%****-2%
Topsfield369%******361%******133%******-1%
Wenham173%****605%******712%**6%
West Newbury241%******-100%******741%******-1%
Middlesex County, MA125%69%102%-6%
Lake County, IL134%7%72%-3%
Westchester County, NY47%11%75%-9%
Massachusetts102%49%102%-3%
United States83%19%72%6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percentage change from 2000. 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. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Total Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Essex County, MA27,58235,729178,263607,416
Beverly1,147****1,129****2,510**37,967
Gloucester477******631******1,150****27,337
Haverhill1,048****2,511**15,67549,986
Lawrence1,498**4,61472,24033,282
Lynn4,88114,58441,87649,865
Methuen2,348**3,405**15,25634,190
Newburyport271******74******453******17,241
Peabody728****1,841**6,21847,013
Salem1,355****2,333**7,86235,955
Andover5,842682******2,908**27,500
Boxford167******0******208******7,709
Danvers659****721******1,564****25,464
Essex0******0******25******3,632
Georgetown61******23******187******8,088
Groveland57******0******246******6,530
Hamilton454****57******93******6,925
Ipswich323******176******507******12,726
Lynnfield662**276******179******11,425
Manchester58******0******96******5,011
Marblehead330******84******860****19,508
Merrimac75******0******96******6,271
Middleton132******191******540**8,855
Nahant33******51******12******3,160
Newbury113******0******144******6,411
North Andover2,148**681******2,705**25,720
Rockport9******21******111******6,675
Rowley57******60******2******5,974
Salisbury220******97******633****8,098
Saugus1,380**993****1,979**24,729
Swampscott385******182******847****13,768
Topsfield244******106******119******5,936
Wenham164****134******211**4,618
West Newbury75******0******227******4,032
Middlesex County, MA206,26883,523134,4621,183,913
Lake County, IL58,80248,075159,640499,259
Westchester County, NY60,685145,588251,810599,188
Massachusetts480,944511,394864,2025,211,704
United States18,782,92441,393,01260,806,969224,789,109

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: 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. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable