The Town FilesEssex, Maryland
Community in Baltimore County · population 40,505 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,900
- Household income
- $67,168
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 41.8
Essex is a community of 40,505 people in Baltimore County, Maryland. The median home is worth $258,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more walkable than 85% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 82% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 74% of Maryland towns.
How Essex ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Essex is worth $258,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $67,168, which is more affordable than 45% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,319 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Essex | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,900 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,319 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $67,168 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Essex
| People | Essex | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 94.3% |
Weather in Essex
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 43.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 16, 1973 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 1, 2004.
Severe weather in Baltimore County since 1996
Baltimore County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| July 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4376: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Baltimore County
Baltimore County had 374,470 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,051 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Essex itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Towns near Essex
- Middle River, MD2.8 mi · 33,203 people · home $271,700
- Bowleys Quarters, MD3.4 mi · 6,853 people · home $400,100
- Dundalk, MD3.7 mi · 67,796 people · home $212,700
- Rosedale, MD3.9 mi · 19,961 people · home $276,200
- Rossville, MD4.2 mi · 16,029 people · home $317,000
- White Marsh, MD5.6 mi · 10,287 people · home $369,200
- Edgemere, MD5.6 mi · 9,069 people · home $372,600
- Overlea, MD5.8 mi · 12,832 people · home $263,900
Essex questions
Is Essex, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Essex scores better for retirees than 12% of Maryland towns and quieter than 26%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Essex?
The median owner-occupied home in Essex is valued at $258,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,168, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,319 a month.
What is the weather like in Essex?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.7 inches of precipitation a year and 20.8 inches of snow.
Does Essex get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 16, 1973. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)