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City · 40,580 residents · Baltimore County, Maryland

Essex , Maryland

In Essex, a typical home is worth $258,900 and typical rent is $1,319 a month. Compared with all of Baltimore County, typical household income is 27% lower, the typical home value is 26% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 5 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $258,900

    26% below the county

    38% below Maryland

    • Essex
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $1,319a month

    19% below the county

    23% below Maryland

    • Essex
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $67,168a year

    27% below the county

    35% below Maryland

    • Essex
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    61%

    5 points below the county

    6 points below Maryland

    • Essex
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$289,219
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,685 a month
2.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Essex is in Baltimore County. The FHA loan limit ($747,500 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Baltimore County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Essex apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical household income in Essex is $67,168, 27% less than in Baltimore County as a whole ($91,768).

  2. The typical home in Essex is worth $258,900, 26% less than in Baltimore County as a whole ($349,300).

  3. Nearby, in Dundalk, the typical home value is $212,700: 18% less than in Essex ($258,900).

  4. The typical rent in Essex is $1,319 a month, 19% less than in Baltimore County as a whole ($1,627).

  5. 61% of households in Essex own their home, against 66% in Baltimore County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Essex

What homes there are in Essex, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Essex are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 39%, against 47% in Baltimore County.

Year built

In Essex, half of the homes were built before 1965; in Baltimore County, before 1973.

There are fewer big homes in Essex than in Baltimore County: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 63%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Essex sit under the FHA limit for Baltimore County ($747,500): about 97%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Essex cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($2,006): about 91%.

With a mortgage

$1,719 a month

Baltimore County: $2,049 a month

Without a mortgage

$613 a month

Baltimore County: $703 a month

Owners with a mortgage

69%

Baltimore County: 67%

In Essex, 69% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,719 a month, against $2,049 in Baltimore County. Without one it drops to $613.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Essex rose 35% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Baltimore County (34%).

Rents in Essex rose more slowly than in Baltimore County: 22% since 2015–2019, against 25%.

The typical household income in Essex rose 16%: less than home values (+35%) and rent (+22%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureEssexBaltimore CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.8%4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.1%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.512.502.572.53
Drive alone 73%70%65%69%
Carpool 12%8%8%9%
Public transit 4%3%4%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 8%17%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Baltimore County, a household in Essex has 2.51 people on average.

Carpooling is common in Essex: 12% of workers get to work that way, against 8% in Baltimore County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Essex?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Essex, worth $258,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income in Essex, which is $67,168 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $94,061 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Baltimore County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Essex. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,062 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,195

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$254,210
Total interest
$365,749
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,372 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,567 a month

  • Tight

    $1,567 to $2,015 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,015 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Essex ($67,168 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,195
Principal & interest$1,722
Property tax$250
Home insurance$108
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$115

You need at least $9,062 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Essex and Baltimore County

Essex is in Baltimore County, Maryland. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Essex's own numbers

Typical home value
$258,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,319
Typical yearly household income
$67,168
Households that own their home
61%
Effective property tax rate
1.16%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Baltimore County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$747,500
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,006
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+39%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Baltimore County.

Everything about Baltimore County

Buying

Buying a home in Essex

A typical home in Essex is worth $258,900: 26% below the county and 38% below Maryland. With the typical household income in Essex ($67,168 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Essex 3.9 years
  • Baltimore 3.8 years
  • Maryland 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Baltimore County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Baltimore County rose 58% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Baltimore County.

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.9% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +39% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +58% +60% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Essex next to Baltimore County, Maryland and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Essex $258,900
  • Baltimore $349,300
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Essex $1,319
  • Baltimore $1,627
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Essex $67,168
  • Baltimore $91,768
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Essex next to Baltimore County and Maryland
Measure Essex Baltimore County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $258,900 $349,300 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,319 $1,627 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $67,168 $91,768 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 61% 66% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,007 $3,736 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.16% 1.07% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 54% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Baltimore County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Essex

For a typical $258,900 home in Essex, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Essex's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,195a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,062
    Cash to close
    $16,829
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $115

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,147a month

    Down payment
    $12,945
    Cash to close
    $20,712
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $123

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,761a month

    Down payment
    $51,780
    Cash to close
    $59,547
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,001a month

    Down payment
    $38,835
    Cash to close
    $46,602
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Essex and for Baltimore County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Essex

1.16%of the home’s value each year

$3,007 a year for the typical owner in Essex.

  • Essex 1.16%
  • Baltimore 1.07%
  • Maryland 0.97%

What Maryland publishes Homestead tax credit (cap on yearly assessment increases) (Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax-Property Article))

Exemptions and deadlines in Maryland

Flood risk in Baltimore County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Baltimore County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Baltimore County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Essex

Typical rent in Essex is $1,319 a month: 19% below the county. In Essex, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Baltimore County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,006 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $38.58 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Baltimore County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,523 $29.29 $60,920
1 bedroom $1,625 $31.25 $65,000
2 bedrooms $2,006 $38.58 $80,240
3 bedrooms $2,509 $48.25 $100,360
4 bedrooms $2,789 $53.63 $111,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Essex

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Essex is in ZIP code 21221.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,680: $326 less than the fair market rent for Baltimore County ($2,006).

  • 21221 $1,680$2,130

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Essex when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Essex

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Essex. These are the largest.

  • Glen Manor Apts 1031 Old Eastern Ave, Essex 21221 252 low-income homes
  • Essex Cooperative Apartments 1000 Franklin Ave, Essex 21221 209 homes, 208 low-income · For older adults (410) 391-7616
  • Hopkins Village Apts 3 Brett Ct, Essex 21221 165 homes, 164 low-income · 1 bd: 164 · In service since 2009 · For older adults, families (410) 687-2828
  • Golden Ring Co-Op Senior Apts. 8620 Kelso Dr, Essex 21221 153 low-income homes · 1 bd: 153 · In service since 2017 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Oak Grove Manor 1900 Grove Manor Dr, Essex 21221 120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 106 · In service since 2004 · For older adults

See all 88 buildings in Baltimore County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Essex

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Baltimore County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Essex

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Essex or Baltimore County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in Essex the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Maryland

  • MMP 1st Time Advantage

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers, with a deferred 0% second mortgage for the down payment: $6,000, or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • MMP Flex Loans

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; Flex 6000 brings $6,000 and Flex 3% brings 3% of the loan for the down payment, as a deferred 0% second loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Maryland SmartBuy

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program loan of up to 15% of the price (maximum $25,000) to pay off your student debt when you buy a home; no interest or monthly payments, and forgiven after five years if you stay in the home. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Essex

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Essex, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Southeast Community Development Corporation

    3323 Eastern Ave, Baltimore · 7 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (410) 342-3234

  • Belair - Edison Neighborhoods, Inc.

    3545 Belair Rd, Baltimore · 7 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (410) 485-8422

  • Harbel Housing Partnership ( A Division of Harbel Community Organization, Inc.)

    5807 Harford Rd, Baltimore · 7 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (410) 444-9152

Every agency in Baltimore County All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near Essex

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Essex

HUD’s record names them for Essex or Baltimore County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Maryland Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Baltimore County

These cities are also in Baltimore County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Baltimore County Housing in Maryland
See 18 more cities in Baltimore County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Essex, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Baltimore County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Essex.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Essex

Short answers with the numbers for Essex and all of Baltimore County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Essex?

The typical home value in Essex is $258,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Baltimore County it is $349,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Essex?

Typical rent in Essex is $1,319 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Baltimore County is $2,006.

What is the FHA loan limit in Essex?

Essex uses the FHA limit for all of Baltimore County (2026): $747,500 for a one-unit home and $1,437,500 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Essex?

The typical homeowner in Essex pays $3,007 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.16% of the home’s value; in Baltimore County, the rate is 1.07%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Essex?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Baltimore County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).