The Town FilesEssex, Iowa
City in Page County · population 722 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,900
- Household income
- $58,095
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 47.2
Essex is a city of 722 people in Page County, Iowa. The median home is worth $89,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 99% of Iowa towns.
How Essex ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Essex is worth $89,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $58,095, which is more affordable than 93% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $598 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Essex | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $598 | $820 |
| Median household income | $58,095 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Essex
| People | Essex | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Essex
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 22, 1964 about 5.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Page County since 1996
Page County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1877: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Page County
Page County had 6,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,462 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Essex itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Essex
2 public schools with 215 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Elementary School | PK-5 | 121 | 15.1 |
| Essex Junior-Senior High School | 6-12 | 94 | 10.4 |
Towns near Essex
- Shenandoah, IA6.2 mi · 4,925 people · home $116,700
- Red Oak, IA13.2 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
- Stanton, IA14.8 mi · 678 people · home $113,400
- Clarinda, IA15.7 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Villisca, IA18.2 mi · 1,132 people · home $77,000
- Sidney, IA18.7 mi · 1,070 people · home $125,300
- Malvern, IA18.7 mi · 1,046 people · home $174,700
- Tabor, IA19.7 mi · 1,014 people · home $204,200
Essex questions
Is Essex, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Essex scores better for retirees than 66% of Iowa towns and quieter than 99%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Essex?
The median owner-occupied home in Essex is valued at $89,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,095, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $598 a month.
What is the weather like in Essex?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 26.4 inches of snow.
Does Essex get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 22, 1964. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)