The Town FilesEssex, Michigan
Township in Clinton County · population 1,827 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,800
- Household income
- $71,488
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.3
Essex is a township of 1,827 people in Clinton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $210,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 85% of Michigan towns, better for families than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Essex ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Essex is worth $210,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $71,488, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $442 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Essex | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $442 | $955 |
| Median household income | $71,488 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Essex
| People | Essex | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Essex
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 5.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 7, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 11, 2003.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 18,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,866 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Essex itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Essex
- Maple Rapids, MI2.9 mi · 573 people · home $131,000
- Bengal, MI5.1 mi · 1,138 people · home $267,800
- Lebanon, MI5.8 mi · 597 people · home $224,000
- Fulton, MI6.0 mi · 2,484 people · home $215,000
- Greenbush, MI6.3 mi · 2,143 people · home $258,800
- Fowler, MI6.3 mi · 1,226 people · home $197,400
- St. Johns, MI7.1 mi · 7,698 people · home $192,400
- Dallas, MI7.7 mi · 2,411 people · home $212,100
Essex questions
Is Essex, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Essex scores better for retirees than 34% of Michigan towns and quieter than 51%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Essex?
The median owner-occupied home in Essex is valued at $210,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,488, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $442 a month.
What is the weather like in Essex?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 45.3 inches of snow.
Does Essex get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Essex since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)