In Essex, New Jersey, the median home price is $675,065, compared with the New Jersey median of $587,945; median household income is $80,789; the population is 863,002; schools rate 6.0 out of 10; the violent crime rate is 289.2 per 100k; and the average commute is 33.6 minutes. Sources: Zillow Research and the US Census Bureau.
Data updated June 2026 - Source: Zillow Research
Essex at a glance
Population
863,002
Median Household Income
$80,789
Typical Home Value
$675,065
School District Rating
6.0
Violent Crime Rate
289.2
Avg Commute Time
33.6
About Essex
Essex has a population of 863,002. The median home value is $675,065, 15% above the New Jersey median. Median household income is $80,789 (22% below the New Jersey median). The most populated towns are Newark, East Orange, and Irvington.
Data comes from public sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Education Statistics, the FBI, the EPA, Zillow, and Redfin. Source attribution is shown on each metric.
Towns in Essex
22 towns, by population.
- Newark310,178 pop.
- East Orange70,090 pop.
- Irvington60,867 pop.
- Bloomfield53,793 pop.
- West Orange48,585 pop.
- Montclair40,341 pop.
- Belleville38,065 pop.
- City of Orange34,281 pop.
- Livingston31,488 pop.
- Nutley30,012 pop.
- Maplewood25,613 pop.
- Millburn22,145 pop.
- South Orange Village18,474 pop.
- Verona14,545 pop.
- Cedar Grove13,475 pop.
- West Caldwell10,995 pop.
- Caldwell9,003 pop.
- Glen Ridge7,943 pop.
- Fairfield7,824 pop.
- North Caldwell6,656 pop.
- Roseland6,268 pop.
- Essex Fells2,361 pop.
County rankings in New Jersey
Every county in New Jersey, ranked on one decision metric at a time.
- Cheapest Counties to Buy a House
- Counties With the Lowest Monthly Housing Payment
- Counties With the Lowest Property Tax
- Counties With the Cheapest Homeowners Insurance
- Counties With the Cheapest Childcare
- Safest Counties From Natural Disasters
- Counties With the Lowest Flood Risk
- Counties With the Lowest Wildfire Risk
- Safest Counties (Lowest Violent Crime)
- Counties With the Best School Ratings
- Counties With the Highest Household Income
- Counties With the Shortest Commute
- Counties Where Homes Sell Fastest
Essex at a glance: frequently asked questions
- What is the population of Essex?
- Essex has a population of 863,002 based on the most recent US Census estimate.
- What is the median home price in Essex?
- The median home value in Essex is $675,065. Open the interactive map to see the distribution town by town.
- What is the median household income in Essex?
- Median household income in Essex is $80,789 per year, sourced from the US Census American Community Survey.
- What state is Essex in?
- Essex is in New Jersey.
- How many towns are in Essex?
- Essex contains 22 towns and municipalities. Click any town below or on the map to see its housing, school, and crime data.
Compare Essex with other places
Put up to four states, counties, towns, or ZIPs side by side on income, housing, crime, education, and more.