Signals
Towson
Essex
Climate
71 · Top 44%
vs71 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 7%
vs94 · Top 6%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 41%
vs78 · Bottom 45%
Schools
91 · Top 3%
vs28 · Bottom 20%
Access
95 · Top 37%
vs95 · Top 35%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 41%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Towson | Essex | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,679 | 40,580 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $101,320 | $67,168 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $61,912 | $35,849 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,146/sq mi | 4,382/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $469,000 | $258,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,764 | $1,319 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.6% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.3% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 12.6% | 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 | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 31.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.6 | 41.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.93 | 15.56 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 44.6% | 6.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 52.7% | 15.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 20.6% | 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: Towson, MD · Essex, MD · How this is calculated: methodology