City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Essex, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Essex - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

373
Residents
$63,854
Median income
$115,600
Median home
$888
Median rent (state)

Essex - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Essex places in the 41st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

41st
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Essex, MO

Essex is a small town in Missouri, home to 373 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $63,854 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.7%. Typical homes in Essex are valued around $115,600, and the median resident age is 44.8 years. About 4.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 69.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: the state registers 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $888 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Missouri's average monthly utility costs around $219 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 74.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

373 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$63,854 /yr

Poverty 6.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Essex compare to other US cities?

Here's how Essex stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Essex against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Missouri only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Missouri-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Essex near the bottom of Missouri's cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Essex ranks #569 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Essex only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#270 of 842
68th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#569 of 875
0th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#440 of 833
47th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#555 of 875
36th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#791 of 875
9th percentile in Missouri

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Missouri only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

41stIncome percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Essex's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$115,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Essex $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Essex, MO Essex, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Essex, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Essex, MO median $63,854/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Essex, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Essex, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
373
Median Income
$63,854
Median Home Value
$115,600
Median Age
44.8
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Labor force participation
69.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.4%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
385 residents390 residents395 residents400 residents 202020212022202320242025 398 residents 390 residents ▼ -2.0%
Essex's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
97.9%
Carpool
1.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.4%

Based on 233 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Essex sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$888/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Frohna
372 people
Fairview
371 people
Walker
371 people
Calhoun
369 people
Osborn
369 people
Hopkins
378 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Essex's 373 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cornfields, AZ
373 people
Libertyville, IA
373 people
Mingo, IA
373 people
Peterson, IA
373 people
Meadowview Estates, KY
373 people
Sacramento, KY
373 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Essex's $63,854 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sterrett, AL
$63,854 median income
Cloquet, MN
$63,854 median income
Denison, IA
$63,850 median income
West Yarmouth, MA
$63,859 median income
Shelley, ID
$63,864 median income
Milford, ME
$63,864 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Essex, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Essex, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 98.1% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Essex compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Essex (this city) 373 $63,854
Frohna 372 $54,375
Fairview 371 $67,500
Walker 371 $29,922
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Essex, MO?

What is the population of Essex, MO? +

Essex, MO has a population of 373 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Essex, MO? +

Median annual household income in Essex runs $63,854, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Essex? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Essex; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Essex, MO? +

Essex's median home value sits at $115,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.