EssexOntario

TownGrade

B⁺

#862 of 2,556

Home to 23,872 people, this town lies in Ontario. It is part of the Windsor metro area.

2 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Andrea_44 from Leamington, Ontario , Canada · CC BY 2.0

Population

23,872

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

46.8

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

48%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Essex a good place to live?

Recorded crime is low (A). Essex’s overall grade of B+ puts it better than nearly two thirds of Canadian towns, #304 of 858 in Ontario. Schools are a strength too (A−). Buying in is costly (C). Hazard risk is weaker too (C+). Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for health, C+ for jobs & income and C+ for walkability.

This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestASafety A⁻Schools

How Essex grades

Each subject compares Essex with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsA⁻Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsCOpen →Hazard riskBehind most towns comparedC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeClose to the middle of the towns comparedC⁺Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carC⁺Open →HealthNear typical for the towns comparedB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Essex stand out

The 2 things Essex does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

3% walk, cycle or take transit

Where the typical figure for Canadian towns is 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Safety

Better than 89%

of Canadian towns on safety

Its safety grade: A.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Essex.

SafetySafety A

For safety, Essex gets an A

37Crime Severity Index

Violent incidents came to 4.9 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12). Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 13.4 per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202332

202457

202523

2023–2025	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	13.4	30.5	31.2
Violent crime	4.9	10.5	12
Violent Crime Severity Index	63	76	86

non-violent Crime Severity Index

51%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageEssex’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety37 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Essex’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Essex safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

SchoolsSchools A⁻

The schools around Essex answer to 3 boards

7schools within 3 kmA⁻Schools Grade

Schooling in French is on offer at one of the 7; in Ontario, one in ten schools teach in it. Results have climbed at 5 of 7 schools over three years. Measured from the centre, the closest high school lies 13 km off, above Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km) alike. 2,715 students attend the 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school in or within 3 km of Essex.

School	Level	Students	System
Essex Public School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	570	English public
Essex District High School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	695	English public
École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Ursule FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	200	French Catholic
Colchester North Public School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	280	English public

See all 7 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public4

English Catholic2

French Catholic1

Schools within 3 km	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Nearest secondary school	13 km	1.2 km	1.2 km
Nearest elementary school	4.9 km	0.5 km	0.5 km
School boards	3	4	3

2,715

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

13 km

to the nearest secondary school

4.9 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageEssex’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

The boards3 school boards · Greater Essex County DSB Every school7 schools within 3 km · 6 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Results2 of 7 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Language1 of 7 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario Questions“What schools are there in Essex?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

HousingCost of living C

Only 12% of households in Essex spend 30% or more of their income on shelter, against 18% in the typical Canadian town

$400,000median home value, 2021CCost of living Grade

Home ownership covers 85% of households. Owners put the median home at $400,000, below Ontario’s towns ($695,000) and close to Canadian towns ($406,000).

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Essex$400,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	12%	22%	18%
Households owning their home	85%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	18%	22%	20%
Median home value, 2021	$400,000	$695,000	$406,000

$960

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,020

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageEssex’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living4.6 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $400,000, against the median household income Renting$960 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters85% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.

Climate

Essex has warmer summers than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: July afternoons reach 27.6°C

27.6°CJuly afternoons

Between the last spring frost, 25 April, and the first in autumn, 23 October, lie 180 days. Frost comes on 117 days a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (139) and Canadian towns (159). On a January night, the temperature in Essex falls to about −7.0°C. Most of the snow comes in January, about 30 cm.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter1.1°C

Spring13.3°C

Summer26.5°C

Autumn15.7°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Essex	Ontario	Canada
July afternoon high	27.6°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	85 cm	146 cm	141 cm
Days with frost a year	117	139	159
January night low	−7.0°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C

85 cm

of snow a year

117

days with frost a year

180

frost-free days, 25 Apr to 23 Oct

101

days with precipitation a year

Full pageEssex’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 27.6°C, January lows −7.0°C Rain and snow827 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow85 cm of snow a year Weather station5.2 km to the station · Harrow

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Harrow)

Natural hazardsHazard risk C⁺

A flood study covers Essex: 1 on the national inventory, the newest from Essex Region Conservation Authority / County of Essex

Lowwildfire bandC⁺Hazard risk Grade

Radon is higher than usual: 14% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Seismic risk in Essex sits near the middle: $0.019 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. Little of the land around Essex has burned: 0.1% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.004% a year.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Essex14%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	14%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.019	$0.043	$0.030

$0.019

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

15 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

Full pageEssex’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · 0.1% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 Earthquakes$0.019 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon14% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁺

Fewer of Essex’s 15-to-64s are in work than in 73% of Canadian towns

3%walk, cycle or take transit

Workers spend 25 min getting to work, on average.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van96%

Walk2%

Bicycle1%

Public transit0%

Census 2021	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	25 min	29 min	26 min

$87,000

median household income, 2020

13%

worked from home, May 2021

28%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageEssex’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment13% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work3% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to2,170 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Windsor

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.

Weather

A normal November in Essex runs from 1°C to 9°C

9°Ca normal November afternoon

Snow is normal by November, about 3 cm over the month. Then December: 2°C by day, −4°C at night. In November, the normal is 65 mm of rain and snow. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s Leamington forecast.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November9°C

December2°C

January0°C

February1°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	1°C	−6°C	176 mm
Spring	13°C	4°C	228 mm
Summer	27°C	17°C	215 mm
Autumn	16°C	7°C	208 mm

1°C

a normal November night

65 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageEssex’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Harrow); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

67% of electors voted in Essex in 2021, more than in 77% of Canada’s ridings

Sherry Bondy was elected mayor of Essex in October 2022, on a council of 8 seats.

Turnout	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	41%	31%	31%

Full pageEssex’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itTown Member of ParliamentChris Lewis

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Harrow Library is Essex’s public library

Essex County Library serves 192,970 people, more than Essex alone, so its figures cover the wider area.

Full pageEssex’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

A year at the library2.3 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2.4 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

HealthHealth B⁻

52% of adults around Essex rate their health very good or excellent

52%very good or excellent healthB⁻Health Grade

The region’s 2022/2024 life expectancy is 81.3, with women at 83.5 and men at 79.2. The three chronic conditions the survey tracks average 18% of adults, above both Ontario’s towns (17%) and Canadian towns (17%). Measured from where Essex’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 22 km away, beyond the typical 3.7 km.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Essex52%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Chronic conditions (average share)	18%	17%	17%
Life expectancy at birth	81.3	82.8	81.5
Smokers	12%	10%	12%
Very good or excellent health	52%	51%	52%

81.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

22 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

3.6 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageEssex’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey52% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care22 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 3.6 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 83.5, men 79.2 Conditions and habits18% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Data for health survey and life expectancy covers the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Outdoors

Essex is 24 km from Point Pelee National Park

0.1%of the land within 10 km protected

Of the country within 10 km, 0.1% lies in protected areas; the median Canadian town has 2.3%. Count 4 protected areas within 10 km of town. For a swim, Colchester Beach is the nearest of 4 beaches within 5 km.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Essex0.1%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0.1%	2.3%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	1	4	4

24 km

to Point Pelee National Park

At the edge

to Cedar Creek Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected area within 10 km

Full pageEssex’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas4 protected areas within 10 km · Cedar Creek Provincial Park National & provincial parks24 km to a national park · Point Pelee National Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

Who lives here

Fewer of Essex’s people belong to a visible minority than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 4.6%

46.8median age

Retirement age and beyond: 22% of residents are 65 or older. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 4.5% of residents, above Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%) alike. Also worth knowing: the share of residents under 15 is 15%.

EssexOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

22%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree16%

Postsecondary qualification48%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.4% of Essex

Here the census found 10,520 men and 10,695 women; the figure for women across Canada is 50.9%.

Who lives in Essex
	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	15%	15%	16%
15 to 64	63%	65%	64%
65+	22%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	16%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	48%	56%	56%

Full pageEssex’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Immigrants9% are immigrants · 5% belong to a visible minority Ages46.8 median age · 22% are 65 or over Households8,390 households · 2.5 people per household English and French7% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

History

Older housing stands out in Essex: 33% predates 1961

33%built before 1961

33%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Essex	Ontario	Canada
Homes built before 1961	33%	22%	18%

Full pageEssex’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes33% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Essex have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Essex

15pages on Essex

The big questions

SafetyACrime Severity Index 37 Housing & costCHomes 4.6 × income Property pricesSchoolsA⁻7 schools within 3 km HealthB⁻Life expectancy 81.3 in its region Work & commuteC⁺53% of adults in work Natural hazardsC⁺Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors0.1% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 28°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 46.8 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village and 3 more in and around Essex

A first look at Essex’s museums, historic sites and days out, and a few just outside town.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumCanadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Villagein town MuseumMuseumEssex County Steam & Gas Engine Museumin town MuseumMuseumEssex and Community Historical Research Societyin town MuseumMuseumFox Creek Conservation Centrein town

Famous people from Essex

10 notable people were born in Essex.

See all 10 →

Elijah McCoyAmerican engineer · 1844–1929

Bruce CrowderCanadian ice hockey player · born 1957

Ken KerseyCanadian musician · 1916–1983

Frederick Alexander CuthbertAmerican landscape architect · 1902–1978

Brandon RevenbergCanadian football player · born 1992

Dan O'HalloranCanadian ice hockey official · born 1964

Photo credits

Elijah McCoy: Unknown author, Public domain · Bruce Crowder: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Ken Kersey: William P. Gottlieb, Public domain · Frederick Alexander Cuthbert: School of Architecture and Allied Arts, University of Oregon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Brandon Revenberg: Cmm3, CC BY-SA 4.0

About Essex

Town in Ontario

Every figure TownRatings gives for Essex covers the municipality as Statistics Canada maps it, one census subdivision in Ontario.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 23,872 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Metro area: Windsor
Census subdivision: 3537016

Essex’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

KingsvilleAmherstburgEssex

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Essex	23,872	—	B⁺	C	A	B⁻
Kingsville	25,302	13	B⁺	C⁻	A⁺	B
Amherstburg	27,509	16	C⁺	C	C⁺	B⁻

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Essex

Who are the people of Essex?

5% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 5% have an Indigenous identity and 9% are immigrants.

What kind of homes are in Essex?

26% of households are one person, and the average is 2.5.

Has Essex grown?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 20,427 to 21,216 residents (up 3.9%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 23,872.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).