Transportation, safety, amenities like the arts and the environment all contribute to the quality of life in Essex County. Available data show a lack of transportation options to be a major challenge, while crime has been declining recently.
The majority of commuters in Essex County drove to work in 2020-24, with 81% driving alone to work and another 9% who carpooled. Only 6% biked, walked or used other means, and 4% used public transportation. Compared to Essex County, Massachusetts had a somewhat lower rate of driving alone (75%) and a higher share using public transportation (8%). From 2010-14 to 2020-24, the share of commuters who drove alone or carpooled each increased by 1 percentage point, while public transportation use declined by 2 percentage points.
About 29,200 people or 9% or households in Essex did not have access to a vehicle. About 1 in 5 households in Lawrence (20%) and Lynn (17%) were without cars.
In 2020-24, 92% of households in Essex County had access to the Internet, similar to the state (93%) and national (91%) rates. However, access varied within the county. While 92% of households in Lynn had Internet access, only 85% of households in Lawrence were connected, well below county and state levels.
The rate of reported crimes against people in Essex County was 9.3 per 1,000 residents in 2024. This represents a 10% increase from 2015 but a slight decline from a recent peak of 9.9 in 2022. More notably, the rate of reported property crimes in Essex County in 2024 was 15.4 per 1,000 residents, a decrease from 2015, when the rate was 22.1. Rates for both crimes against people and against property in Essex were lower than the state rates.
In 2024, nearly 740 people were arrested for drug-related crimes in Essex County, a rate of about 0.9 per 1,000 residents, slightly above the statewide rate of 0.8. Rates were highest in Haverhill (1.9), Lynn (1.7) and Lawrence (1.6).
In 2024, there were 3.7 reported victims of domestic violence per 1,000 residents in Essex County, slightly higher than in 2015 but below the statewide rate of 4. Essex County’s rate was higher than Middlesex, MA (2.0 per 1,000).
In 2024, approximately 12 residents per 10,000 were incarcerated in Essex County, down from 24 per 10,000 in 2014 but higher than the statewide rate of 10 per 10,000. The recidivism rate in Essex County also declined. Among inmates released in 2019, 29% were returned to prison within 3 years, down from 42% in 2009. The decline in Essex matches a similar statewide decline over this same time period.
Voter participation in Essex County was 62% in the 2024 presidential election and 45% in the 2022 midterm election. The 2024 turnout was lower than in all presidential elections since 2012, though slightly higher than the statewide rate of 61%. Essex County’s turnout was higher than all comparison counties in 2024.
In 2022, Essex County residents contributed over $502 million, or about 1% of their income, to charitable organizations. This was lower than both the state (1.3%) and national (1.4%) rates.
In 2024, nearly $1.2 billion was spent on travel and tourism in Essex County, or about $1,450 per resident. This represents an 8% increase since 2010, less than the statewide increase of 13%. Essex County accounted for about 5% of the more than $24 billion spent statewide.
In 2025, 81% of days with air quality measurements in Essex County were classified as good air days, down slightly from 2024 but a 20-percentage point improvement since 2010. Essex County had the lowest share of good air days among comparison counties. Lake County, IL had the highest at 85%, while Middlesex, MA and Westchester, NY were similar to Essex at 82%.