United States › Maryland › Essex CITY
Essex Maryland · 40,580 residents · 9.26 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Essex is home to 40,580 people in Maryland. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Households here earn about 35% less than in Maryland as a whole. There are 4,382 people per square mile. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $258,900. 8% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 4,382 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 4,103 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
37K 38K 39K 40K 41K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Essex Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $67,168
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,978 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,550 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.383 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 7.2%
Public administration 3.4%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
Education & health services 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$258,900
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $97,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,319
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 52.1% in 2000
38.7% rent
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.54 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 45.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 73.5%(28,734)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(884)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 54.7%(22,215)
Hispanic / Latino 6.2%(2,523)
from 60 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 72.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 76.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 80.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 74.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 89.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 36.7%(5,542)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 60.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.2%(418)
Gulf War (1990s) 32.6%(751)
Share of the 2,301 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Essex Head to head
Compare Essex to nearby cities ESSEX VS
Middle River
Income $78,398 +17%
Home value $271,700 +5%
Population 31,712 −22%
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ESSEX VS
Dundalk
Income $64,520 −4%
Home value $212,700 −18%
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ESSEX VS
Rosedale
Income $85,711 +28%
Home value $276,200 +7%
Population 20,002 −51%
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ESSEX VS
Rossville
Income $90,000 +34%
Home value $317,000 +22%
Population 16,059 −60%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Essex, Maryland? Essex, Maryland has about 40,580 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Essex, Maryland? The typical household in Essex, Maryland earns about $67,168 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Essex, Maryland expensive? In Essex, Maryland, the median home is worth about $258,900, and the typical rent is about $1,319 a month.
How educated are people in Essex, Maryland? About 19.9% of adults age 25 and over in Essex, Maryland hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Essex, Maryland? About 12.6% of people in Essex, Maryland live below the federal poverty line.
Has Essex, Maryland grown since 1990? Yes, Essex, Maryland has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 292 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.
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