County · New York

Essex County, New York

Essex County, New York. Essex County had 36,438 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than New York's (−1.0%). It holds 31 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs, 18 towns and townships and 11 census-designated) and 18 census tracts. GEOID 36031.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

36,438

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 37,381 · ACS 2020-2024: 36,973

Median household income

$71,661

±$4,292 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974

Median home value

$211,900

±$11,846 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800

Median gross rent

$934

±$69 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621

How many people live in Essex County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 37,381 residents in Essex County. The Census Bureau estimates 36,438 for July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than New York's (−1.0%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 36,973 over 1,794 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −37 (37,238)
2021→2022 −482 (36,756)
2022→2023 −70 (36,686)
2023→2024 −147 (36,539)
2024→2025 −101 (36,438)

Essex County in New York. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Essex County	New York	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	36,973	19,852,366	−486
Households	16,342±375	7,722,646	no clear change
Average household size	2.12±0.05	2.49	no clear change
Housing units	25,484±84	8,585,241	−812

Essex County's population since 2000

From 38,851 in 2000 to 36,438 in 2025: down 6.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 38,851
2005 (estimate) 39,321
2010 Census 39,370
2015 (estimate) 37,973
2020 Census 37,381
2025 (estimate) 36,438

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Essex County?

Essex County holds 31 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 18 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 11 census-designated places. The largest is Town of North Elba with 7,768 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Essex County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

North Elba (town)	town	7,480	7,540±40	$72,843	$431,600	9.5%	100%
Ticonderoga (town)	town	4,789	4,705±28	$65,481	$176,200	17.4%	100%
Moriah (town)	town	4,716	4,483±16	$63,113	$138,200	14.5%	100%
Ticonderoga	CDP	3,250	3,260±237	$54,938	$158,200	23.4%	100%
Jay (town)	town	2,486	2,354±342	$72,380	$196,900	6.7%	100%
Chesterfield (town)	town	2,476	2,492±408	$65,278	$142,900	18.5%	100%
Lake Placid	village	2,205	2,306±358	$41,612	$400,000	9.0%	100%
Crown Point (town)	town	2,042	1,984±296	$82,813	$157,900	6.9%	100%
Willsboro (town)	town	1,905	1,903±313	$69,766	$237,900	12.1%	100%
Schroon (town)	town	1,880	1,897±217	$69,955	$272,800	7.7%	100%
St. Armand (town)	town	1,446	1,555±240	$81,221	$241,200	6.3%	100%
Saranac Lake	village	4,887	4,965±406	$61,967	$199,900	17.7%	28%
Mineville	CDP	1,327	1,206±386	$68,786	$110,900	8.2%	100%
Westport (town)	town	1,320	1,550±356	$71,146	$237,100	11.0%	100%
Lewis (town), Essex County	town	1,293	1,156±185	$82,083	$181,000	3.2%	100%
Keeseville	CDP	2,931	2,570±471	$62,063	$120,900	17.9%	43%
Elizabethtown (town)	town	1,203	1,149±177	$57,222	$175,400	16.2%	100%
Port Henry	CDP	1,150	1,410±336	$45,706	$174,100	33.1%	100%
Keene (town)	town	1,144	710±163	$93,542	$471,400	3.8%	100%
Wilmington (town)	town	1,139	1,251±248	$82,344	$322,600	4.0%	100%
Schroon Lake	CDP	921	898±258	$69,531	$268,100	8.6%	100%
Wilmington	CDP	843	904±227	$90,625	$307,000	4.2%	100%
Minerva (town)	town	773	836±136	$67,303	$171,800	9.0%	100%
Elizabethtown	CDP	746	721±125	$64,583	$188,100	15.9%	100%
WillsboroGEOID 3682260	CDP	689	661±234	$42,813	$124,500	23.4%	100%
Essex (town)	town	621	710±137	$77,188	$277,800	19.3%	100%
Westport	CDP	496	403±124	$64,500	$251,400	20.6%	100%
Newcomb (town)	town	418	490±85	$108,750	$254,800	2.3%	100%
WitherbeeGEOID 3682656	CDP	385	202±171	$42,757	not published	11.9%	100%
Willsboro PointGEOID 3682282	CDP	382	646±243	$133,462	$360,000	7.6%	100%
North Hudson (town)	town	250	208±62	$77,292	$170,000	6.8%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Essex County?

The median resident of Essex County is 49.9 years old; 15.4% are under 18 and 26.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.9%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Essex County	New York	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	49.9±0.3	39.8	+2.2
Under 18 years	15.4%±0.1 pts	20.5%	–
65 years and over	26.4%±0.2 pts	17.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.9%	19.8%	−0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	91.6%±0.5 pts	52.8%	no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.2 pts	13.4%	−1.0 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.2 pts	9.0%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.3%±0.4 pts	3.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.4 pts	1.0%	–
Born outside the United States	4.1%±0.6 pts	22.8%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.2%±0.8 pts	30.9%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.0%±1.0 pts	3.7%	–
With a disability	17.7%±1.3 pts	12.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.0%±0.8 pts	5.1%	+1.4 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.1%±1.1 pts	88.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	32.8%±2.0 pts	40.2%	+6.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	14.7%±1.5 pts	17.9%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.3%±0.6 pts	1.5%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Essex County earn?

Half of Essex County's 16,342 households earn less than $71,661 a year (±$4,292), against $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 it was $69,858 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Essex County	New York	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$71,661±$4,292	$85,974	no clear change
Mean household income	$95,557±$5,517	$128,247	–
Per capita income	$42,694±$2,347	$50,712	+$3,722
People below the poverty line	11.2%±1.3 pts	14.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	13.8%±3.8 pts	18.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	10.5%±1.8 pts	15.6%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	91.9%±1.3 pts	90.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Essex County?

Owners occupy 77.3% of Essex County's occupied homes and renters 22.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,900 by its owner (±$11,846). The median renter pays $934 a month including utilities, and 41.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Essex County	New York	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$211,900±$11,846	$423,800	+$22,865
Median gross rent	$934±$69	$1,621	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	41.6%±5.8 pts	43.1%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,601±$78	$2,555	–
Owner-occupied homes	77.3%±1.9 pts	54.3%	no clear change
Housing units	25,484±84	8,585,241	−812
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.2%±0.5 pts	1.1%	–
Rental vacancy rate	7.8%±2.7 pts	3.8%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.1%±1.6 pts	41.2%	–
Mobile homes	5.9%±0.8 pts	2.1%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.4%±0.2 pts	0.8%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	29.9%±1.7 pts	30.3%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Essex County building?

Builders took permits for 188 new housing units across Essex County in 2025 (176 single-family), 5.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 106 units
2020 101 units
2021 241 units
2022 221 units
2023 197 units
2024 153 units
2025 188 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Essex County get to work?

70.3% of Essex County's workers drive alone and 13.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Essex County	New York	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	55.2%±1.2 pts	62.7%	–
Unemployment rate	4.0%±0.8 pts	6.4%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	70.3%±2.5 pts	48.8%	–
Carpooled	10.8%±1.6 pts	6.3%	–
Public transportation	0.8%±0.7 pts	21.6%	–
Walked	4.0%±1.3 pts	5.6%	–
Worked from home	13.2%±2.0 pts	14.9%	+6.1 pts
Mean travel time to work	22.7 min±1.3	32.6 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Essex County's census tracts?

Essex County is divided into 18 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $50,500 (Tract 9604.01) to $106,395 (Tract 9605.02).

Census tracts of Essex County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 960136031960100	Keeseville (19%)	2,476	2,492±408	$65,278	$142,900	$1,114	18.5%
Tract 960236031960200	–	2,486	2,354±342	$72,380	$196,900	$1,272	6.7%
Tract 960336031960300	Wilmington (28%)	2,585	2,806±283	$81,525	$283,200	$993	5.3%
Tract 9604.0136031960401	Saranac Lake (76%)	1,120	1,002±100	$50,500	$226,300	$918	9.5%
Tract 9604.0236031960402	Lake Placid (47%)	1,215	1,062±217	$52,277	$460,900	$1,063	3.4%
Tract 9605.0136031960501	Lake Placid (59%)	2,473	2,186±273	$76,830	$419,000	$1,144	13.3%
Tract 9605.0236031960502	Saranac Lake (9%)	2,672	3,290±303	$106,395	$540,200	$1,140	8.5%
Tract 960736031960700	–	1,914	1,866±198	$80,000	$198,100	$965	9.5%
Tract 960836031960800	Willsboro Point (29%)	1,905	1,903±313	$69,766	$237,900	$720	12.1%
Tract 9609.0136031960901	Elizabethtown (20%)	1,519	1,504±301	$53,250	$169,900	$776	17.9%
Tract 9609.0236031960902	Westport (6%)	2,148	1,905±206	$84,286	$282,800	$1,071	6.1%
Tract 9610.0136031961001	Witherbee (23%)	1,512	1,310±320	$64,116	$140,700	not published	7.9%
Tract 9610.0236031961002	Port Henry (26%)	3,204	3,173±323	$58,640	$134,400	$832	17.3%
Tract 961136031961100	–	2,042	1,984±296	$82,813	$157,900	$1,625	6.9%
Tract 9612.0136031961201	Ticonderoga (8%)	1,882	1,802±237	$79,250	$186,900	$849	6.8%
Tract 9612.0236031961202	Ticonderoga (68%)	2,907	2,903±235	$54,814	$172,500	$853	23.8%
Tract 961336031961300	Schroon Lake (20%)	1,880	1,897±217	$69,955	$272,800	$516	7.7%
Tract 961436031961400	–	1,441	1,534±170	$76,500	$191,900	$789	6.7%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Essex County compare with New York's other counties?

Essex County's rank among New York's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	56th of 62
Growth 2020-2025	52nd of 62
Residents per square mile	60th of 62
Median household income	32nd of 62
Median home value	27th of 62
Median gross rent	40th of 62
Poverty rate	47th of 62
Bachelor's degree or higher	25th of 62
Median age	2nd of 62

Every county in New York

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Essex County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.