Essex County, MA vs Plymouth County, MA

Plymouth County, MA comes out ahead of Essex County, MA on 20 of 29 statistics where one end is better, to 8 with 1 ties. Essex County, MA leads on Health. Plymouth County, MA leads on Economics.

29 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 1 tie. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Wins
8
Avg. percentile
64
Categories led
1
Wins
20
Avg. percentile
65
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US counties.

StatisticEssex County, MAPlymouth County, MA
Population
827,136
80th of 3,094
548,995
135th of 3,094
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
$101,883
154th of 3,093
$114,201
73rd of 3,093
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
9.37%
656th of 3,094
7.1%
228th of 3,094
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)
4.6%
tied 2,157th of 3,094
4.6%
tied 2,157th of 3,094
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
36.7%
tied 1,322nd of 3,094
36.0%
tied 1,159th of 3,094
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
28.5
2,407th of 3,094
32.5
2,840th of 3,094
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
6,194
tied 2,151st of 3,050
5,699
tied 1,933rd of 3,050
Median Air Quality IndexAir Quality by County (EPA)
40
tied 479th of 960
37
tied 306th of 960

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • HealthEssex County, MA · 11 statistics
  • EconomicsPlymouth County, MA · 9 statistics

Biggest differences

The 22 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 1,547 US counties.

StatisticEssex County, MAPlymouth County, MA
Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
16.3%
tied 352nd of 2,916
18.4%
tied 1,318th of 2,916
Adults Who Binge Drink (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
17.3%
tied 1,284th of 2,916
19.7%
tied 2,254th of 2,916
Adults with Depression (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
23.0%
tied 1,160th of 2,916
24.9%
tied 1,725th of 2,916
Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
23.2%
tied 699th of 2,916
19.2%
tied 170th of 2,916
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
28.5
2,407th of 3,094
32.5
2,840th of 3,094
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
9.37%
656th of 3,094
7.1%
228th of 3,094
Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
16.1%
tied 423rd of 2,916
14.7%
tied 176th of 2,916
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
6,194
tied 2,151st of 3,050
5,699
tied 1,933rd of 3,050
Adults with Diabetes (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
8.7%
tied 286th of 2,916
8.2%
tied 136th of 2,916
Cooling Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
497
tied 546th of 3,050
593
tied 702nd of 3,050
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
36.7%
tied 1,322nd of 3,094
36.0%
tied 1,159th of 3,094
Median IncomePoorest Counties
$101,883
154th of 2,000
$114,201
73rd of 2,000
Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
6.5%
tied 96th of 2,916
4.7%
6th of 2,916
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
92.4%
383rd of 3,094
92.9%
287th of 3,094
Adults Who Smoke (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
11.5%
tied 222nd of 2,916
12.1%
tied 295th of 2,916
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
$101,883
154th of 3,093
$114,201
73rd of 3,093
Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
79.1%
tied 252nd of 2,916
79.5%
tied 187th of 2,916
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
43.0%
199th of 3,094
41.8%
228th of 3,094
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
$619,100
3,017th of 3,092
$556,000
2,994th of 3,092
Adults with Obesity (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)
30.0%
tied 196th of 2,916
29.7%
tied 179th of 2,916
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)
$1,756
2,977th of 3,090
$1,747
tied 2,973rd of 3,090
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)
4.6%
tied 2,157th of 3,094
4.6%
tied 2,157th of 3,094
See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Essex County, MA or Plymouth County, MA?
Plymouth County, MA comes out ahead of Essex County, MA on 20 of 29 statistics where one end is better, to 8 with 1 ties. Essex County, MA leads on Health. Plymouth County, MA leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Essex County, MA or Plymouth County, MA?
Essex County, MA has a population of 827,136 (80th of 3,094 US counties) and Plymouth County, MA has 548,995 (135th of 3,094).
How do Essex County, MA and Plymouth County, MA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Essex County, MA $101,883 (154th of 3,093), Plymouth County, MA $114,201 (73rd of 3,093) among US counties. Plymouth County, MA ranks better.
How do Essex County, MA and Plymouth County, MA compare on Poverty Rate (%)?
Poverty Rate (%): Essex County, MA 9.37% (656th of 3,094), Plymouth County, MA 7.1% (228th of 3,094) among US counties. Plymouth County, MA ranks better.
Where does Essex County, MA beat Plymouth County, MA most clearly?
Essex County, MA ranks far ahead on Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 16.3% vs 18.4%; Adults Who Binge Drink (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 17.3% vs 19.7%; Adults with Depression (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 23.0% vs 24.9%.
Where does Plymouth County, MA beat Essex County, MA most clearly?
Plymouth County, MA ranks far ahead on Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 19.2% vs 23.2%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)): 7.1% vs 9.37%; Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 14.7% vs 16.1%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Essex County, MA or Plymouth County, MA.