County or equivalent · 25009
Essex County, Massachusetts
Annual housing permits and reporting coverage
- Published estimate · 2025
- 942
- Reported only · 2025
- 593
- Added by estimation · 2025
- 349
Reported and estimated units by year
| Year and source | Published estimate | Reported only | Added by estimation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Census file | 1,140 | 976 | 164 |
| 2024 Census file | 1,011 | 499 | 512 |
| 2025 Census file | 942 | 593 | 349 |
2024 to 2025 · published estimate -69 units · reported only +94 · added by estimation -163. The published estimate and reported-only count moved in opposite directions. This split describes the difference between the published columns.
What types of housing were authorized?
| Units in building | Published estimate | Reported only | Added by estimation |
|---|---|---|---|
| One unit | 358 | 250 | 108 |
| Two units | 54 | 40 | 14 |
| Three or four units | 32 | 20 | 12 |
| Five or more units | 498 | 283 | 215 |
Local housing and rent context
| Measure | Estimate and margin |
|---|---|
| Housing units · Census table B25001 | 329,776 ± 224 |
| Median gross monthly rent · Census table B25064 | $1,756 ± $23 |
| Gross rent at least 30% of income · Census table B25070 | 56.8% ± 1.2 percentage points |
| Gross rent at least 50% of income | 30% ± 1 percentage points |
| Estimated households with a computed rent-to-income ratio | 108,412 |
The 2025 permit estimate amounts to 2.9 authorized units per 1,000 housing units in the ACS estimate. The numerator and denominator cover different periods.
The Vintage 2025 Census housing stock estimate changed from 331,635 in 2024 to 332,377 in 2025 (+742 units). This is a separate model-based inventory estimate.
Permit offices listed under this county code
Use the office pages for their own histories and source coverage notes.
- AmesburyPermit office 25013000 · Essex County · 5 authorized units
- Andover townPermit office 25017000 · Essex County · 12 authorized units
- BeverlyPermit office 25063000 · Essex County · 6 authorized units
- Boxford townPermit office 25079000 · Essex County · 6 authorized units
- Danvers townPermit office 25147000 · Essex County · 14 authorized units
- Essex townPermit office 25193000 · Essex County · 0 authorized units
- Georgetown townPermit office 25221000 · Essex County · 3 authorized units
- GloucesterPermit office 25225000 · Essex County · 77 authorized units
- Groveland townPermit office 25243000 · Essex County · 109 authorized units
- Hamilton townPermit office 25249000 · Essex County · 8 authorized units
- HaverhillPermit office 25271000 · Essex County · 46 authorized units
- Ipswich townPermit office 25303000 · Essex County · 14 authorized units
- LawrencePermit office 25313000 · Essex County · 10 authorized units
- LynnPermit office 25341000 · Essex County · 152 authorized units
- Lynnfield townPermit office 25343000 · Essex County · 15 authorized units
- Manchester-by-the-Sea townPermit office 25347000 · Essex County · 9 authorized units
- Marblehead townPermit office 25351000 · Essex County · 14 authorized units
- Merrimac townPermit office 25375000 · Essex County · 36 authorized units
- MethuenPermit office 25377000 · Essex County · 58 authorized units
- Middleton townPermit office 25385000 · Essex County · 8 authorized units
- Nahant townPermit office 25409000 · Essex County · 5 authorized units
- Newbury townPermit office 25429000 · Essex County · 31 authorized units
- NewburyportPermit office 25431000 · Essex County · 11 authorized units
- North Andover townPermit office 25441000 · Essex County · 7 authorized units
- PeabodyPermit office 25479000 · Essex County · 20 authorized units
- Rockport townPermit office 25527000 · Essex County · 5 authorized units
- Rowley townPermit office 25531000 · Essex County · 10 authorized units
- SalemPermit office 25539000 · Essex County · 82 authorized units
- Salisbury townPermit office 25541000 · Essex County · 75 authorized units
- Saugus townPermit office 25547000 · Essex County · 5 authorized units
- Swampscott townPermit office 25607000 · Essex County · 81 authorized units
- Topsfield townPermit office 25621000 · Essex County · 0 authorized units
- Wenham townPermit office 25665000 · Essex County · 1 authorized units
- West Newbury townPermit office 25673000 · Essex County · 7 authorized units
Sources and definitions
How to read these figures
- The Census Building Permits Survey counts new privately owned housing units authorized by permits. One permit can cover multiple units. The counts describe authorizations, a stage before starts and completions.
- The published estimate includes reported units and Census estimates that fill gaps. The difference is calculated from those two columns. Reported-only units can include records from approved alternative sources. A missing report can leave an office without a usable count.
- County and state totals come from their own Census files. Permit offices can cover places across county lines or areas served by another jurisdiction. The office’s county field is used for navigation.
- ACS housing inventory and rents are survey estimates for 2020–2024. Gross rent includes rent and separately paid utilities or fuels. Rent burden is the share paying at least 30% of income among cash-rent households with a computed ratio. Margins are at 90% confidence. The margin for rent burden is approximate.
- Vintage 2025 county housing stock is a separate Census series. Its model uses building-permit data alongside other inputs. Read stock change and permits as separate measures.
Public sources retrieved November 10, 2026. Building Permits Survey annual data · Survey methodology · American Community Survey data · Download the comparison