Essex County
MA · Pop. 807,258 · Urban County
Essex County is an urban county in Massachusetts, spanning 493 square miles with 807,258 residents at a density of 1637.4 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $584,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.07%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 157-day growing season, average summer highs of 77.1°F and average winter lows of 18.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Beverly Hosp - Beverly Campus is 5.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Beverly Hosp - Beverly Campus, with an emergency room, is just 5.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low poverty rate of 9.4% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A 157-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- A median home price of $584,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
At a glance
Essex County, MA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 18/100
- Median home price
- $584k
- Property tax
- 1.07%
- Growing season
- 157 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.4"
- Broadband
- 99.9%
- Nearest hospital
- Beverly Hosp - Beverly Campus, 5.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Essex County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Essex County?
- Essex County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 157-day growing season, average summer highs of 77.1°F, and average winter lows of 18.9°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $584,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.07%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Beverly Hosp - Beverly Campus is 5.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 14 hospitals in the county.
Explore Massachusetts Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
Invest in farmland online — vetted properties with passive income potential.
More counties in Massachusetts
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The closest counties to Essex County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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