The typical owner-occupied home in Essex is worth about $108,700, 53% below the Missouri median of $230,300 and 67% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,076 a year in property taxes, about 0.99% of their home's value, higher than the Missouri rate of 0.85%. The median household earns $62,536 a year, so the median home costs 1.7 times the median income (3.3 times for Missouri). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 70% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Essex at a glance
| Essex | Missouri | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,700 | $230,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,076 | $1,948 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.99% | 0.85% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $62,536 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 69% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 70% | 60% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,075 | $1,524 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.3% | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $694 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 33.5% | 28.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1976 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 32.2% | 11.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 413 | 6,191,814 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Essex
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Essex home of $108,700 with 20% down costs about $720 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $901, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $30,855 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 14% of the median Essex household income of $62,536; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $220,000.
The median rent here is $694 a month, so owning the median home costs about $26 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $21,740 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $86,960 |
| Principal and interest | $585 |
| Property taxes (0.99% a year) | $90 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $45 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $720 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $3,804 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $106,731 |
| Principal and interest | $718 |
| Property taxes (0.99% a year) | $90 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $45 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $48 |
| Total per month | $901 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Essex
What is the median home value in Essex?
About $108,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Essex?
Homeowners pay a median $1,076 a year, which is about 0.99% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Essex?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $720 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $30,855 a year.
More about Essex
- Mortgage Refinance in Essex
- Debt Relief in Essex
- Home Equity Loans in Essex
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data