Signals
Fallston
Essex
Climate
71 · Top 49%
vs71 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 7%
vs94 · Top 6%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 25%
vs78 · Bottom 45%
Schools
74 · Top 22%
vs28 · Bottom 20%
Access
88 · Bottom 36%
vs95 · Top 35%
Economic stability
76 · Top 15%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Fallston | Essex | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,013 | 40,580 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $154,688 | $67,168 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $62,402 | $35,849 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 715/sq mi | 4,382/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $562,300 | $258,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,268 | $1,319 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 97.2% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.9% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.6% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.1" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 39.4 min | 31.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.7 | 41.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.02 | 15.56 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.6% | 6.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 41.4% | 15.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 13.2% | 64.0% | 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: Fallston, MD · Essex, MD · How this is calculated: methodology