Essex is a small town of 955 in Illinois, with a median household income of $102,788
and a 2.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Essex stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Essex is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Essex city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.3
Essex's overall cost of living index is 92.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Essex costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Essex, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$215,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,118
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
88.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$102,788
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Essex's violent crime rate is 80.1 per 100,000 residents
— 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
80.1 /100k
Property Crime
497.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Essex, IL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Essex sees average highs of 30.7°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.3 inches of snow per year.
Essex's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Essex roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $215,200 and median rent is $1,118/month.
Essex's violent crime rate is 80.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 497.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Essex, IL has a population of 955, a median household income of $102,788, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Essex averages 30.7°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches
with about 23.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Essex, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60935.
The population of Essex, Illinois is 955 with a median age of 32.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Essex: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $215,200, median household income $102,788, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Essex side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.