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Living in
Essex.
Essex is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Essex
Living in Essex means settling into a stable, established Baltimore County neighborhood where you're close enough to the city for work but far enough to avoid the density. The median home value sits around $258,900 with median rent at $1,307 a month, which is reasonable for the region, and the 4.0% unemployment rate suggests decent job availability. Your commute will average about 30 minutes, which is manageable for Baltimore-area standards.
Essex at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
8.3%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
+3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.3% foreign-born, most often from Nigeria
Who lives in Essex: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Essex, the largest foreign-born group is from Nigeria (18.3%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.1%
of households
Married Couples
37.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% below MD average
Rent, home values, and income in Essex
In Essex, rent runs 23% below the MD average, and home values are 38% below the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,007
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $289,219 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MD
Unemployment in Essex
Unemployment in Baltimore County, which includes Essex, is close to the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Essex: Baltimore County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Baltimore County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Essex is about 5% of Baltimore County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Essex Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29.4 min avg
How Essex residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Essex, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Baltimore County Police Department, which covers Essex, runs 22% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
400.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,400.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Baltimore County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 43 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Baltimore County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Baltimore County, which includes Essex, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 43 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2024 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15.1M |
| 2023 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.4M |
| 2022 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $326,000 |
| 2021 | 51 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 58 | Dense Fog | $333,500 |
| 2019 | 53 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500,000 |
| 2018 | 64 | Flood | $8.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Baltimore County, county-wide
Essex is about 5% of Baltimore County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Baltimore County, which includes Essex, is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Baltimore County, county-wide
Essex is about 5% of Baltimore County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Essex has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.6"
Annual Snowfall
19.3"
Hot Days/Year
43
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
52
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 30°F | 3.07" |
| Feb | 47°F | 32°F | 2.75" |
| Mar | 55°F | 39°F | 3.93" |
| Apr | 67°F | 48°F | 3.55" |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 3.39" |
| Jun | 85°F | 68°F | 3.36" |
| Jul | 90°F | 73°F | 4.71" |
| Aug | 87°F | 71°F | 4.35" |
| Sep | 80°F | 65°F | 4.49" |
| Oct | 69°F | 53°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 58°F | 43°F | 2.98" |
| Dec | 48°F | 35°F | 3.66" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Essex
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Essex's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Rosedale
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Baltimore
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Baltimore
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Essex
Essex's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Essex (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 16,136 students · in-state tuition $12,186 · 72% graduate · median earnings $70,158 (10 yrs after entry)
Community College of Baltimore County
3.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 13,872 students · in-state tuition $4,536 · 19% graduate · median earnings $46,761 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
12.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,701 students · in-state tuition $13,679 · 71% graduate · median earnings $74,881 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,019 students · in-state tuition $8,346 · 53% graduate · median earnings $56,585 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,693 students · in-state tuition $67,170 · 94% graduate · median earnings $104,590 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,869 students · in-state tuition $59,150 · 79% graduate · median earnings $90,179 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Essex
Essex has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
6 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
7 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
23 mi awayChesapeake Bay
National Park Site
23 mi awayBaltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
28 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
32 mi awayKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
National Park Site
37 mi awayPublic Libraries in Essex
Essex Branch
1110 Eastern Blvd., Baltimore
Cities Near Essex
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Essex?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Essex FAQ
Is Essex, Maryland affordable?⌄
Essex's median rent is $1,319/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $67,168/year. Median home value is $258,900.
Is Essex, Maryland safe?⌄
Essex is policed by the Baltimore County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 401 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2400 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Essex, Maryland?⌄
Baltimore County, which includes Essex, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Essex, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Essex is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,319/month and median household income is $67,168/year. The median home value is $258,900. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Essex, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Essex is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from