What is the cost of living in Essex, MD?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Essex has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Maryland, Essex has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Maryland's index of 121.
The standard of living in Essex ranks as #12 most affordable out of the 195 places we measured in Maryland. By definition, that implies Essex ranks as the #183 most expensive place in the Old Line State.
For more reading on life in Essex, check out:
Essex Cost Of Living Vs. Maryland
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Essex. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Essex is 104.
The Groceries index in Essex is 108.
The Health index in Essex is 112.
The Housing index in Essex is 107.
The Transportation index in Essex is 107.
The Utilities index in Essex is 106.
| Living Expense | Essex | Maryland | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Health | 112 | 152 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 109 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 109 | 100 |
Essex Cost Of Living Compared To Maryland Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Maryland, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Essex Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Essex, MD Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Maryland, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Essex is $291,980.
The Median Rent in Essex is $1,319.
The Median Income in Essex is $67,168.
The Home Value To Income in Essex is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Essex is 0.24x.
Essex, MD Costs By Category
Detailed Essex Services costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Essex Groceries costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Essex Health costs vs. Maryland
Detailed Essex Transportation costs vs. Maryland
Essex SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Essex
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Essex. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dundalk, MD has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Essex.
Bel Air South, MD has a cost of living index of 124, 1.2x Essex.
Severna Park, MD has a cost of living index of 154, 1.4x Essex.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk, MD | 65,969 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Bel Air South, MD | 58,137 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Severna Park, MD | 40,228 | 154 | 1.4x |
| Middle River, MD | 31,712 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Bel Air North, MD | 31,302 | 131 | 1.2x |
| Parkville, MD | 30,549 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Perry Hall, MD | 29,105 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Ilchester, MD | 28,364 | 139 | 1.3x |
| Elkridge, MD | 26,283 | 134 | 1.3x |
| Arnold, MD | 24,303 | 144 | 1.3x |
