Baltimore County, Maryland

Living in Essex, MD

Among Baltimore County's 16 largest communities, Essex has the most affordable rents ($1,319), the second-most affordable home values ($259K) and the second-most townhouses (36% townhouses). With about 40,500 residents, it's Baltimore County's 4th-largest community. Below: prices, housing and getting around, and how Fred works here.

Get the Essex market report Plan a tour

Median home value: $259K; Census, 2020–2024
Median rent: $1,319; per month
Own their home: 61%; of households
Avg. commute: 29 min; one way

At a glance

Homes, prices & getting around.

The median home in Essex is valued at $259K, below the Baltimore County median of $349K — the 2nd lowest of the 16 Baltimore County communities compared on this site. Median rent is $1,319 a month (county: $1,627).

Housing here is a mix — 39% detached houses, 36% townhouses and 24% condos and apartments. Most homes are owner-occupied (61%, against 66% across Baltimore County). The typical home was built in 1965, older than the Baltimore County median of 1973.

MARC commuter trains stop at Martin Airport, about 2.8 miles away. Of workers here, 4% take public transit and 8% work from home.

Homes by type of building

Detached houses 39%
Townhouses 36%
2–9 unit buildings 8%
10+ unit buildings 16%

Residents: 40,505; 2020 Census
Homes: 17,245; 2020 Census
Typical home built: 1965; median year
Avg. commute: 29 min; one way
Transit commuters: 4%; of workers
Work from home: 8%; of workers
Price-to-rent: 16; Baltimore County: 18

Straight-line distance to major job centers

Downtown Baltimore: 9 mi
Fort Meade: 21 mi

As the crow flies from the community's Census center point; drive times vary with traffic — Fred can map your real commute.

Questions

Living in Essex: common questions.

Is Essex a city? What county is it in?

No — Essex is an unincorporated community (a Census-designated place) in Baltimore County, Maryland. It has no city government of its own; Baltimore County provides local services, and the mailing-address “Essex” area can be larger than the Census boundary.

What is the median home value in Essex?

$259K, based on owners' own estimates in the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey, compared with $349K across Baltimore County. These figures trail today's prices — request a valuation or a current Essex market report for recent sales.

Do more people rent or own in Essex?

61% of households own their home and 39% rent (ACS 2020–2024), compared with 66% owners across Baltimore County. Fred can run the rent-versus-buy numbers for a specific Essex home.

How far is Essex from Baltimore and D.C.?

Essex is about 9 miles from downtown Baltimore and about 42 miles from downtown D.C. in a straight line. The average one-way commute from here is 29 minutes.

Which schools serve Essex?

Public schools are assigned by home address. Essex is served by Baltimore County Public Schools; check the district's boundary tools for any specific address, and see school-level results on the Maryland Report Card.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Essex?

A rough guide is the price-to-rent ratio — the median home value divided by a year of median rent. Here it's about 16 (Baltimore County: 18); the higher it is, the more renting tends to win on monthly cost. It's only a starting point — taxes, rates and how long you'll stay matter more. Fred runs the real numbers for specific homes.

Are there first-time buyer programs for Essex?

Yes: Maryland Mortgage Program — the state's down-payment assistance and first-time buyer loans. Eligibility and limits change, so confirm with a participating lender — Fred can introduce one.

Can Fred help me buy or sell in Essex?

Yes. Fred Mohseni is a Realtor® licensed in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. with The ONE Street Company at Samson Properties. Call (202) 704-5931 or send a note.

How Fred helps

Your Essex real estate agent.

Whether you're buying, selling, investing or relocating in Essex, you work directly with Fred — a Realtor® licensed in Maryland, Virginia and D.C., with an accountant's eye for the numbers.

Buying

Tours, offers and negotiation in Essex, with a patient, jargon-free guide from pre-approval to closing day.

Selling

Pricing from recent Essex sales, then preparation and marketing for the strongest possible offer.

Investing

Rent-versus-own math, cash-flow analysis and neighborhood selection from an accounting and finance background.

Relocating

New to the area? Fred compares Essex with nearby towns and runs remote tours before you arrive.

Nearby

Essex and its neighbors.

The closest places on this site, across county and state lines. Middle River is about 2.8 miles away, Dundalk is about 3.7 miles away, Perry Hall is about 7.5 miles away.

Community	Population	Median home value	Median rent	Own their home	Typical home	Avg. commute
Essex	40,505	$259K	$1,319	61%	Mixed	29 min
Middle River	33,203	$272K	$1,636	66%	Mostly houses	28 min
Dundalk	67,796	$213K	$1,473	65%	Townhouses	25 min
Perry Hall	29,409	$350K	$1,706	77%	Mostly houses	29 min
Parkville	31,812	$260K	$1,526	62%	Mostly houses	27 min
Carney	29,363	$320K	$1,793	60%	Mixed	29 min
Riviera Beach	12,384	$350K	$1,972	82%	Mostly houses	30 min

ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates. * = wide margin of error. “Typical home” is the most common kind of building. On smaller screens some columns are hidden; open on a laptop for population, home type and commute.

Next step

Thinking about Essex?

Ask Fred for a current Essex market report — recent sales, what's listed and what it means for your budget. Or call (202) 704-5931.

Request the Essex market report Compare Baltimore County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; D.C. Office of Planning neighborhood clusters and regional rail stations (D.C. GIS). Home values are owners' own estimates averaged over 2020–2024, so they trail today's prices. This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. Data updated November 2026.