At a Glance
Median Income
$57,344
$33,671 per capita
Home Value
$87,700
Zillow: $186,989
Median Rent
$681/mo
24.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
16.3%
91.5% high school+
Unemployment
3.1%
1.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.2%
14.9% smoking rate
How Essex Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Essex's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Essex a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.8 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Essex residents earn a median household income of $57,344 , which is 24% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,671. The unemployment rate stands at 3.1% (14% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 482 business establishments, including 32 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Essex is $87,700 , 69% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $186,989. Median rent is $681/month, with 24.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1949.
Education
16.3% of adults in Essex hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(52% below the national average).
91.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Essex has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.4 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population875
Median Age48.0 yrs
Density534/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born2.2%
Veterans8.1%
Economy
A
Median Income$57,344
Per Capita$33,671
Unemployment3.1%
Poverty1.8%
County GDP$811M
Avg Weekly Wage$970
Housing
A+
Home Value$87,700
Rent$681
Ownership78.9%
Zillow$186,989
Housing Units419
Rent Burden24.7%
Health
Obesity39.2%
Diabetes8.7%
Smoking14.9%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death7,340/100K
Climate
Avg Temp52°F
Rain36.4 in/yr
Elevation997 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+16.3%
High School+91.5%
Graduate+5.0%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 71% / D 28%
Commute20 min
Broadband81.0%
Internet Speed103 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Essex was built in 1949.
The nearest airport is Eppley Airfield (45 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.456 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
9.3% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 103 Mbps.