The Town FilesEssex, Illinois
Village in Kankakee County · population 841 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,200
- Household income
- $108,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 34.3
Essex is a village of 841 people in Kankakee County, Illinois. The median home is worth $228,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 91% of Illinois towns, quieter than 91% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 91% of Illinois towns.
How Essex ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Essex is worth $228,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $108,250, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,143 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Essex | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,143 | $960 |
| Median household income | $108,250 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Essex
| People | Essex | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 35.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Essex
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 17, 1963 about 4.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Kankakee County since 1996
Kankakee County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 23, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1513: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| January 17, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3161: Illinois Winter Snow Storms |
Jobs and pay in Kankakee County
Kankakee County had 42,231 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,890 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Essex itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Essex
- South Wilmington, IL4.6 mi · 710 people · home $174,400
- Braceville, IL4.9 mi · 724 people · home $187,900
- Godley, IL5.0 mi · 566 people · home $144,600
- Rest Haven, IL6.1 mi · 502 people · home $196,400
- Braidwood, IL6.2 mi · 6,194 people · home $202,500
- Gardner, IL6.2 mi · 1,366 people · home $199,600
- Lakewood Shores, IL7.2 mi · 665 people · home $217,100
- Diamond, IL7.7 mi · 2,640 people · home $220,200
Essex questions
Is Essex, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Essex scores better for retirees than 51% of Illinois towns and quieter than 91%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Essex?
The median owner-occupied home in Essex is valued at $228,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,250, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,143 a month.
What is the weather like in Essex?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 22.9 inches of snow.
Does Essex get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 17, 1963. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)