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Essex, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Page County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
875 Population 534/sq mi density
$57,344 Median Income $33,671 per capita
$87,700 Home Value $177,567 Zillow
$681 Median Rent 24.7% income on rent
52°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
20 Violent Crime/100K 931 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$57,344 median income, 1.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$87,700 home value, $681/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
20 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Essex experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.4 inches. The area receives 26.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

24°F Jan (-5°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average51.8°F
4% below US avg
January Average24°F (-5°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation997 ft (304 m)
Area1.6 sq mi (4.2 km²)
Population Density534/sq mi
Coordinates40.8328°N, 95.3053°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyPage County County
Nearest AirportEppley Airfield (OMA)
45 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 36.4"
4% below US avg
Snowfall 26.4"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.53"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.79"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score40.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability45.2 / 100
Community Resilience81.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

5 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.9 on Jan 6, 2014.

Dec 17, 2009 2 km NW of Auburn, Nebraska M3.6 67 km
Jul 16, 2004 6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa M3.5 30 km
Feb 11, 1995 6 km E of Clearmont, Missouri M3.1 47 km
Jan 6, 2014 5 km NW of Liberty, Nebraska M2.9 131 km
Mar 31, 1993 2 km SE of Nemaha, Nebraska M2.9 64 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

640 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 20 fatalities, 490 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 27, 1953 EF5 85 km 1
May 21, 2024 EF4 33 km 5
Apr 26, 2024 EF4 95 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF4 34 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF4 86 km 0
May 27, 1995 EF4 79 km 0
May 24, 1989 EF4 52 km 0
Mar 29, 1979 EF4 41 km 0
Jun 26, 1976 EF4 73 km 0
May 6, 1975 EF4 74 km 3
Jun 22, 1964 EF4 19 km 0
Apr 12, 1964 EF4 19 km 1
May 10, 1959 EF4 93 km 0
Apr 5, 1954 EF4 32 km 0
May 21, 2024 EF3 9 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 60 km 1
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 53 km 0
Apr 26, 2024 EF3 69 km 0
Apr 11, 2001 EF3 94 km 0
May 16, 1999 EF3 98 km 2
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

8 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (4,195 ac, 2005).

Year Name Acres Distance
2005 UNNAMED 4,195 49 km
2020 MOSQR-FY20-RX-WUI 964 80 km
2016 SQR BM SL DESOTO 2016 WUI RX 866 81 km
1988 NORTH POOL 698 81 km
2020 UNNAMED 645 82 km
2010 UNNAMED 629 79 km
2009 UNIT 6 625 83 km
2002 SCRDGRS 6 536 84 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 24°F (-5°C) 0.8 in Coldest, Driest
February 28°F (-2°C) 0.9 in
March 40°F (4°C) 2.2 in
April 52°F (11°C) 3.3 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.4 in
June 72°F (22°C) 4.5 in Wettest
July 77°F (25°C) 4.5 in Warmest
August 74°F (23°C) 4.3 in
September 66°F (19°C) 4.1 in
October 54°F (12°C) 2.6 in
November 39°F (4°C) 1.9 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 1.1 in

Essex has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 24°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.5") and January the driest (0.8").

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