Signals
Essex
Baltimore
Climate
71 · Top 44%
vs71 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 6%
vs91 · Top 10%
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 45%
vs75 · Bottom 40%
Schools
28 · Bottom 20%
vs31 · Bottom 23%
Access
95 · Top 35%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 44%
vs40 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Essex | Baltimore | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,580 | 573,243 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,168 | $62,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,849 | $40,604 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,382/sq mi | 7,082/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $258,900 | $229,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,319 | $1,331 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.3% | 47.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 36.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 19.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 31.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 36.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 151 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.56 | 14.79 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 6.6% | 9.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 15.4% | 12.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 64.0% | 71.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: Essex, MD · Baltimore, MD · How this is calculated: methodology