Essex, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Essex, Missouri had a total population of 413, the 566th largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $62,536, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 24.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 5.1% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.6%.
Essex Quick Facts
How Essex Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 373 | 413 | +10.7% |
| Median household income | $63,854 | $62,536 | -2.1% |
| Median home value | $115,600 | $108,700 | -6.0% |
How Essex Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Essex Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Stoddard County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter | 7,891 | $51,701 | 17.0% | $137,200 |
| Bloomfield | 2,069 | $41,838 | 25.1% | $67,100 |
| Bernie | 1,725 | $48,438 | 24.1% | $98,100 |
| Advance | 1,450 | $59,688 | 14.0% | $127,500 |
| Puxico | 846 | $47,500 | 18.0% | $89,500 |
| Bell City | 496 | N/A | 36.7% | $47,500 |
| Penermon | 102 | $17,625 | 87.3% | $44,700 |
| Dudley | 99 | $50,750 | 7.1% | $190,000 |
| Grayridge | 96 | $40,313 | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Essex
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westphalia | 415 | $61,136 | $202,600 | 33.8% | 4.8% |
| Clarksville | 402 | $63,000 | $107,700 | 34.4% | 4.2% |
| Armstrong | 416 | $59,063 | $57,500 | 5.5% | 10.3% |
| Montrose | 425 | $61,375 | $92,500 | 14.1% | 8.1% |
| Bent Tree Harbor | 391 | N/A | $102,800 | 0.0% | 29.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 413, Essex's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Essex is a small community located in Missouri, within Stoddard County. The total population is 413. It ranks as the 566th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Essex is 42.0 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Essex is $62,536. This is 12% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.6%. This is 96% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $108,700. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Essex is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Essex has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%.
Education
5.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 84% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 73.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Essex, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Missouri city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Essex, Missouri?
Essex, Missouri has a population of 413 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Essex, MO?
The median household income in Essex is $62,536, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Essex, MO?
The poverty rate in Essex is 24.6%. This means approximately 101 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Essex, Missouri?
Essex's population is 93.0% White, 0.0% Black, 4.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Essex, MO?
The median home value in Essex is $108,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.7x.
How educated is Essex, Missouri?
5.1% of adults (25+) in Essex hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.