County profile · Virginia
Essex County, VA market data
How Essex County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 10,654
- +0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 4,447
- Median household income
- $56,520
- +8.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $238,100
- Jobs located here
- 3,291
- Highest market score
- 53
- Real estate, #910 of 2,229 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Essex County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Essex County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Essex County has an estimated 10,654 people and 4,447 households. Population estimates put the population change in Essex County from 2020 to 2025 at +0.5%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Essex County is $56,520, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 8.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Essex County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (58).
Of the business types scored in Essex County, real estate businesses (53), real estate agents and brokers (47) and insurance agencies (44) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For real estate businesses, that ranks #910 of 2,229 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (12% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Essex County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Essex County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | 53 | #910 of 2,229 | 7 | 15.7 | Index only | 201 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 47 | #1,207 of 2,176 | 7 | 15.7 | Index only | 160 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 44 | #1,328 of 2,272 | 9 | 20.2 | $1.3M | 101 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 36 | #1,655 of 2,210 | 8 | 18.0 | $932K | 106 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 33 | #1,738 of 2,222 | 6 | 13.5 | $2.4M | 80 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 30 | #1,711 of 2,087 | 7 | 15.7 | $1.1M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 30 | #1,964 of 2,358 | 11 | 24.7 | $1.2M | 51 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 28 | #2,152 of 2,394 | 33 | 74.2 | $133K | 87 | 12 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 23 | #2,223 of 2,405 | 46 | 103.4 | $318K | 86 | 24 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 20 | #2,215 of 2,402 | 14 | 31.5 | $1.8M | 52 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 19 | #2,045 of 2,261 | 7 | 15.7 | $3.5M | 45 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 19 | #2,319 of 2,405 | 27 | 60.7 | $542K | 82 | 14 |
| Tire shops | 18 | #1,430 of 1,530 | 5 | 11.2 | $808K | 32 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 18 | #2,249 of 2,339 | 12 | 27.0 | $292K | 68 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 17 | #2,309 of 2,378 | 15 | 33.7 | $269K | 61 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 17 | #2,331 of 2,385 | 22 | 49.5 | $159K | 75 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 16 | #2,340 of 2,401 | 26 | 58.5 | $155K | 58 | 10 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.0 | $1.5M | 87 | 9 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.0 | $876K | 52 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.0 | $1.1M | 35 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $4.9M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $1.3M | 53 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $4.9M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $1.3M | 44 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $1.5M | 148 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $1.2M | 131 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $1.2M | 45 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $4.9M | 96 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $1.2M | 133 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $2.2M | Too few | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $384K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $12.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $1.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $1.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.5 | $2.2M | Too few | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $1.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $11.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $5.8M | Too few | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $11.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $5.8M | Too few | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Essex County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $4M | $909 | 95 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $13.4M | $3,003 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $14.6M | $3,290 | 81 |
| Groceries | $24.7M | $5,554 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $3.5M | $788 | 78 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.6M | $366 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $2.6M | $575 | 58 |
| Medical and dental services | $4.4M | $984 | 76 |
| Pets | $3.5M | $777 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $7.5M | $1,676 | 82 |
| Vehicle insurance | $11.4M | $2,556 | 131 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $11.3M | $2,549 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $5.8M | $1,313 | 93 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $61M | $13,716 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Essex County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 10,654+0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 4,447
- Median age
- 48.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 257 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 41
- Median household income
- $56,520+8.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $81,300
- Median home value
- $238,100
- Jobs located here
- 3,291
- Daytime population
- 8,320Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Essex County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Essex County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Virginia 8
- Richmond County, VA9,095 people
- King and Queen County, VA6,695 people
- King William County, VA18,593 people
- Westmoreland County, VA18,826 people
- Northumberland County, VA12,188 people
- Lancaster County, VA10,936 people
- New Kent County, VA25,105 people
- King George County, VA27,896 people
Questions
How fast is Essex County, VA growing?
Population estimates put Essex County at 10,654 people in 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 4,447 households. Median household income rose 8.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Essex County, VA spend?
Households in Essex County spend about $61M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $24.7M on groceries and $14.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Essex County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (58).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Essex County, VA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Essex County are for real estate businesses (53), real estate agents and brokers (47) and insurance agencies (44). Essex County ranks #910 of 2,229 scored counties for real estate businesses.
How does Essex County, VA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Essex County is $56,520 a year, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $238,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Essex County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (12% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 17 of the 56 business types have a score in Essex County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Essex County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Virginia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Essex County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Essex County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.