Essex-City-Hall-mo, 2020
Essex’s story
153 years in pictures
Census counts: 77 in 1880, a peak of 639 in 1940, 403 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2020 and 3 maps from 1934 on.
- 1873Essex is platted
EssexMO
A town of 390, platted in 1873.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
390
2025 Census estimate · −2% since 2020
Median home value
$109K
Census ACS
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
42.0
years
Jobs based here
40
A commuter town
Is Essex a good place to live?
25% of residents live below the poverty line in Essex, above both Missouri’s towns (14%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 1 of the 248 Missouri towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Essex. Essex has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
390 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Essex: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Essex, and how to reach them.
PowerUnion Electric13.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEssex PWS2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Essex’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereStoddardStoddard County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6384663846 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Essex.
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Essex, with earthquakes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 81% of U.S. communities.
81risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingTornadoes
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents in Essex work locally than in the typical Missouri or U.S. town
0.6% of working residents work locally in Essex, below both the Missouri town median (13%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). The average trip to work in Essex is 20 minutes. The top destinations are Dexter (14%), Sikeston (14%) and Poplar Bluff (7%).
1%work in town
| Essex | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.6% | 13% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Essex1%
Dexter14%
Sikeston14%
Poplar Bluff7%
Bloomfield6%
16 mi
median commute distance
40
jobs based in Essex
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Essex
Essex has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Essex’s July high is 90°F.
3″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–47°
Spring48–70°
Summer68–89°
Fall48–71°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 26
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Essex is
Essex beats the Missouri average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13. 24% of Essex adults smoke cigarettes.
| Essex | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 30% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 22% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better19 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Essex | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 24% | 16% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.3% | 8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 18.4% | 13.7% |
Mercy Hospital Stoddard
5.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Essex
16pages on Essex
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Essex; the nearest are
Three Rivers CollegeCommunity college · Public · Poplar Bluff31.5 mi$4,950 in-state tuitionSoutheast Missouri State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Cape Girardeau39 mi$9,903 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Essex residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Essex for work
Where Essex’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
40jobs based in Essex
1%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Essex
City in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States
Essex is a city in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 403 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 299 ft
- ZIP code
- 63846
- Area code
- 573
Questions about Essex
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Essex, MO a good place to live?
Essex has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.