The Town Files

Essex County, Virginia

10,623 people. The median home is worth $238,100 (typical Virginia town: $298,050) and the median household earns $56,520.

Towns in Essex County

Towns in Essex County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Tappahannock2,193$218,800$46,81644.9

People and housing

Essex CountyTypical Virginia town
Median home value$238,100$298,050
Median rent$972$1,254
Median household income$56,520$78,595
Median age47.139.8
Bachelor's degree or higher16.6%31.2%
Below the poverty line12.3%8.8%

Jobs and pay

3,546 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,848 a year.

Largest industries in Essex CountyRetail839 jobs · $34,897Hotels & restaurants359 jobs · $21,064Manufacturing299 jobs · $49,614Administrative & support218 jobs · $44,267Wholesale trade198 jobs · $61,311Other services120 jobs · $34,704
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Essex County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 215 storm events in Essex County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Essex County by type since 1996Hail20Flood6High Wind3Heavy Rain25Heavy Snow3Flash Flood7Frost/Freeze2Winter Storm19Coastal Flood10Excessive Heat4
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Essex County has been included in 27 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 23, 2026Winter StormEM-3631: Severe Winter Storm
March 11, 2022Severe StormDR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
May 10, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4602: Severe Winter Storms
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3448: Covid-19
December 18, 2018HurricaneDR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).