Essex County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 126.3 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 6,101.9 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population declined by 14.9%. On the 2000 census form, 96.6% of the population reported only one race, with 41.2% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 15.4% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.72 persons compared to an average family size of 3.30 persons. In 2008 health care and social assistance was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $49,832. Per capita income grew by 26.9% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2008) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	770,675	72	Covered Employment	357,697	72
Growth (%) since 1990	-0.9%	2284	Avg wage per job	$58,027	37
Households (2000)	283,736	66	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	6.5%	2054
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	366,591	80	Avg wage per job	$66,805	132
Unemployment Rate (2008)	6.6	950	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	9.3%	92
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$50,156	81	Avg wage per job	$54,119	125
Median Household Income (2007)	$53,319	416	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	14.1%	586
Poverty Rate (2007)	13.3	1729	Avg wage per job	$49,832	82
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	75.6	1,953	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	5.4%	168
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	27.5	284	Avg wage per job	$108,303	20