Where Are People Moving in Essex, MA?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
13,542
People moving out
15,318
Net migration
-2,561
Essex, MA is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 13,542 people moved in and 15,318 moved out, for a net loss of -2,561. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving Essex, MA’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to Essex, MA from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex, MAMassachusetts | 4,847 | 7,552 |
| Suffolk, MAMassachusetts | 2,693 | 4,352 |
| Rockingham, NHNew Hampshire | 867 | 1,280 |
| Norfolk, MAMassachusetts | 505 | 748 |
| Hillsborough, NHNew Hampshire | 422 | 627 |
| Worcester, MAMassachusetts | 375 | 558 |
| Bronx, NYNew York | 166 | 316 |
| Plymouth, MAMassachusetts | 161 | 236 |
| New York, NYNew York | 157 | 240 |
| Bristol, MAMassachusetts | 154 | 213 |
Top counties people left Essex, MA for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex, MAMassachusetts | 4,184 | 6,252 |
| Suffolk, MAMassachusetts | 1,949 | 2,736 |
| Rockingham, NHNew Hampshire | 1,672 | 2,649 |
| Hillsborough, NHNew Hampshire | 659 | 1,041 |
| Worcester, MAMassachusetts | 578 | 986 |
| Norfolk, MAMassachusetts | 455 | 668 |
| New York, NYNew York | 236 | 260 |
| Plymouth, MAMassachusetts | 229 | 349 |
| Strafford, NHNew Hampshire | 225 | 327 |
| York, MEMaine | 190 | 304 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to Essex, MA or leaving?
Essex, MA had a net loss of -2,561 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 13,542 people moving in and 15,318 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to Essex, MA from?
The largest sources of new Essex, MA residents are Middlesex, MA, Suffolk, MA, Rockingham, NH. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving Essex, MA go?
People leaving Essex, MA most often move to Middlesex, MA, Suffolk, MA, Rockingham, NH. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does Essex, MA migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside Essex, MA's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this Essex, MA migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.