Signals
Essex
Bel Air South
Climate
71 · Top 44%
vs71 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 6%
vs94 · Top 7%
Housing affordability
78 · Bottom 45%
vs97 · Top 15%
Schools
28 · Bottom 20%
vs65 · Top 33%
Access
95 · Top 35%
vs86 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 44%
vs81 · Top 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Essex | Bel Air South | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,580 | 58,137 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,168 | $123,653 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,849 | $55,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,382/sq mi | 2,733/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $258,900 | $405,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,319 | $1,757 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.3% | 81.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 49.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 3.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.7" | 47.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 30 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 32.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.56 | 14.20 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 6.6% | 14.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 15.4% | 28.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 64.0% | 34.1% | 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.
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Essex
71
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Bel Air South
82
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Full profiles: Essex, MD · Bel Air South, MD · How this is calculated: methodology