Residential comparison · 13 facts
Essex, MD vs Middle River, MD
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Essex needs about $87,500 in Middle River to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Middle River, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Essex.
A few differences
- Middle River is higher on median household income ($78,398 vs $67,168).
- Essex is lower on cost of living index (97 vs 103).
- Essex is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,340/mo vs $1,729/mo).
Essex vs Middle River · facet by facet
| Facet | Essex, MD | Middle River, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $258,900 | $271,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,340/mo | $1,729/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.05% | 1.05% |
| State & local income tax | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Cost of living index | 97 | 103 |
| Groceries index | 105 | 105 |
| Utilities | $190/mo | $190/mo |
| Median household income | $67,168 | $78,398 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 6.2/10 | 6.2/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 213 days | 213 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Essex, MD · Middle River, MD
Questions & answers
- Is Essex cheaper than Middle River?
- Essex has the lower day-to-day cost index (97 vs 103 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Middle River equals $85,000 in Essex?
- A household earning $85,000 in Essex needs about $87,500 in Middle River to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Middle River lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Essex.