Essex County

Vermont · VT

#1 in Vermont
68.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Essex County, Vermont

Vermont's Livability Leader

Essex County posts the highest composite score in this Vermont cohort at 68.7, well above the national median of 50.0. This rural northeast kingdom county outperforms most American counties despite its remoteness.

Top Livability Performer Statewide

At 68.7, Essex ranks well above Vermont's average of 64.0, making it the strongest performer in the state among these eight counties. The achievement is striking given its rural character and modest incomes.

Unbeatable Affordability and Resilience

Essex delivers remarkable value with a cost score of 77.6 (second highest in state) and median home values at just $167,500. The risk score of 96.8 is exceptional, showing exceptional resilience to shocks.

Income Opportunity Remains Constrained

The income score of 21.9 is the lowest statewide, with median household income at $58,985. Job creation and wage growth are the main development gaps.

Perfect for Resilient, Self-Reliant Remote Workers

Essex is tailor-made for remote workers, retirees, and families seeking extreme affordability, tight-knit communities, and exceptional resilience. Expect limited local job options; self-employment or telecommuting is nearly essential.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax54.8Cost77.6SafetyComing SoonHealth76.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.9Risk96.8WaterComing Soon
🏛54.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠77.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼21.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
76.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
96.8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Essex County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Essex County

via TaxByCounty

Essex taxes run well above national norms

At 1.688%, Essex County's effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 1.099% by 54%, placing it around the 77th percentile nationally. With a median tax of $2,828, Essex remains remarkably close to the national median of $2,690, a rare achievement reflecting its lower home values.

Near average rate statewide, lowest values

Essex County's 1.688% effective rate runs slightly below Vermont's state average of 1.718%, placing it in the lower-middle tier of Vermont's counties. The median home value of $167,500 is Vermont's lowest, resulting in the state's lowest median tax bill of $2,828.

Caledonia rates higher despite fewer homes

Essex's 1.688% rate sits comfortably below Caledonia County's 1.830% to the south and Addison's 1.693% to the west. Among northeastern counties, Essex maintains a moderate rate coupled with the state's most affordable property values.

Median home taxed around $2,828 annually

On Essex County's median home value of $167,500, a 1.688% effective rate yields approximately $2,828 in yearly property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages pay roughly $3,098, while those without mortgages pay around $2,628.

Even modest overassessments add up quickly

Though Essex's absolute tax bills are Vermont's lowest, overassessments still represent real money lost to unnecessarily high taxes. Given that roughly one-third of homeowners are over-valued on tax rolls, verifying your assessment and filing an appeal if warranted can protect your bottom line.

Cost of Living in Essex County

via CostByCounty

Low income, manageable housing burden

Essex County's rent-to-income ratio of 18.6% slightly exceeds Vermont's state average of 17.8%, but its median household income of $58,985 is the lowest statewide—20% below the national median. This creates a paradox where renters face a heavier burden despite lower absolute rents, reflecting the county's limited wage opportunities.

Vermont's lowest-income county

Essex County confronts dual challenges: the state's lowest median household income at $58,985 combined with a 18.6% rent-to-income ratio that exceeds the state average. Its median home value of $167,500 is Vermont's cheapest, but limited local income-earning potential makes housing affordability fragile for residents.

Cheapest homes, but tight income situation

Essex's median rent of $915 is the second-lowest in Vermont after Caledonia ($904), and its $167,500 median home value is by far the state's lowest. However, with median income of $58,985—substantially below all neighboring counties—Essex residents are the most income-constrained in the region.

Low costs meet low paychecks

Renters pay just $915 monthly and homeowners $938, among Vermont's cheapest, but against a median income of $58,985, these costs consume 18.6% of household budgets. While technically manageable, Essex's limited wage-earning opportunities mean housing stability depends heavily on employment stability or outside income sources.

Only choose Essex if you have alternative income

Essex offers rock-bottom housing costs and is Vermont's last affordable frontier, but chronic low local incomes make it risky for job-seekers relocating without remote work or savings. If you're retiring, working remotely, or have guaranteed alternative income, Essex's cheap homes and rents are unbeatable; otherwise, consider Caledonia's better affordability balance.

Income & Jobs in Essex County

via IncomeByCounty

Essex County trails the nation

Essex County's median household income of $58,985 falls 21% short of the U.S. median of $74,755, making it one of the country's lower-income rural counties. Limited economic diversification and remoteness constrain employment opportunities and wage growth.

Lowest income county in Vermont

Essex ranks 14th and last among Vermont's counties, trailing the state average of $75,043 by more than $16,000. The county's per capita income of $34,221 represents the state's lowest individual earning level.

Significantly behind Caledonia County

Essex's $58,985 median falls about $7,000 below Caledonia County ($66,075), the nearest comparable county. Essex's northeast isolation and dependence on forestry and small-scale tourism limit wage growth relative to more connected Vermont regions.

Housing affordability is critical

At 18.6%, Essex's rent-to-income ratio approaches the affordability concern threshold when paired with the county's lowest median income. The median home value of $167,500 represents the state's lowest, offering a rare silver lining for potential buyers.

Protect what you earn, grow slowly

At $59,000 median household income, Essex residents must prioritize financial stability and emergency savings before aggressive investing. Focus on eliminating high-interest debt, building 3-6 months of reserves, and exploring lower-cost financial services through credit unions and online brokers.

Health in Essex County

via HealthByCounty

Essex faces significant health headwinds

Essex County's 77.4-year life expectancy sits 1.3 years above the U.S. average of 76.1 years, but 16.0% of residents report poor or fair health—close to the national 17.9% benchmark. This represents genuine population health stress.

Worst health outcomes in Vermont

Essex County ranks dead last in Vermont, with 77.4-year life expectancy nearly a full year below the state average of 78.2 years. At 16.0% poor/fair health, Essex has the highest burden of self-reported poor health in the entire state.

Health crisis among regional peers

Essex's 77.4-year life expectancy and 16.0% poor/fair health rate are the worst among all Vermont counties—3.4 years below Chittenden (80.8) and 3.3 percentage points worse than Addison (10.2%). The county faces urgent health challenges.

Severe provider shortage crisis

Essex faces an acute healthcare desert with just 17 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—a tenth of Chittenden's rate—and only 67 mental health providers per 100,000. Combined with 5.2% uninsured, residents face compounding access barriers that directly threaten health.

Insurance access critical in Essex

With the state's worst provider shortage, having health insurance is essential for residents willing to travel for care. Contact Vermont's marketplace or local health department today to secure coverage and find resources outside your county.

Disaster Risk in Essex County

via RiskByCounty

Essex County ranks among the safest

Essex County's composite risk score of 3.21 places it among America's lowest-risk jurisdictions, with a "Very Low" rating across nearly all natural hazard categories. Its remote location in the Northeast Kingdom creates exceptional geographic protection.

Vermont's single safest county

Essex County's score of 3.21 represents the lowest composite risk in Vermont, dramatically below the state average of 36.44. No other county in the state comes close to Essex's minimal exposure profile.

Safest of all northeastern counties

Essex County's risk profile stands far below Caledonia County (30.15) and all other neighboring jurisdictions analyzed. Its isolation, higher elevation, and sparse development create the state's most resilient natural hazard environment.

Limited hazard exposure overall

Essex County's hazard scores remain remarkably low across all categories, with wildfire risk (3.82) and tornado risk (4.87) essentially negligible. Even its highest score—earthquake risk (22.52)—falls well below statewide norms, reflecting the county's geographic isolation.

Basic coverage provides full protection

Essex County residents need only standard homeowners insurance and can likely forgo specialized flood or windstorm coverage, making it one of Vermont's most economical counties for disaster insurance. Annual premium reviews should still occur to ensure adequate replacement value.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.