Essex Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Essex. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:208 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Essex Population

Total Population (2021)

21,216

Total Population (2016)

20,427

Population Growth

+3.9% (+789)

Growth Rank

#390 of 688Same geo level

Male

49.6%10,520

Female

50.4%10,695

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.984

Average Age

44.1

Median Age

46.8

Age Rank

#417 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

980(4.6%)

5–9

1,115(5.3%)

10–14

1,155(5.4%)

15–19

1,175(5.5%)

20–24

1,160(5.5%)

25–29

1,155(5.4%)

30–34

1,155(5.4%)

35–39

1,140(5.4%)

40–44

1,135(5.3%)

45–49

1,365(6.4%)

50–54

1,470(6.9%)

55–59

1,850(8.7%)

60–64

1,715(8.1%)

65–69

1,485(7.0%)

70–74

1,280(6.0%)

75–79

815(3.8%)

80–84

515(2.4%)

85+

555(2.6%)

Essex Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.5

Total Private Dwellings

8,880

Occupied Private Dwellings

8,391

Size Distribution

1 Person

2,155 (25.7%)

2 Persons

3,140 (37.4%)

3 Persons

1,200 (14.3%)

4 Persons

1,210 (14.4%)

5+ Persons

690 (8.2%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

2,315(27.6%)

Couples without children

2,570(30.6%)

One-parent families

705(8.4%)

One-person households

2,155(25.7%)

Multigenerational

250(3.0%)

Multiple-family

40(0.5%)

Essex Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$88,800After tax

Median Household Income

$77,500After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$43,960After tax

Median Individual Income

$39,200After tax

Income Rank

#305 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

80.0%

Employment Income

64.8%

Government Transfers

19.9%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

1,215(7.2%)

$10k–$20k

1,930(11.4%)

$20k–$30k

2,310(13.7%)

$30k–$40k

2,195(13.0%)

$40k–$50k

2,215(13.1%)

$50k–$60k

1,845(10.9%)

$60k–$70k

1,370(8.1%)

$70k–$80k

980(5.8%)

$80k–$90k

750(4.4%)

$90k–$100k

580(3.4%)

$100k+

1,505(8.9%)

Essex Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

53.3%

Unemployment Rate

12.5%

Total Labour Force

10,625

Employed

9,295

Unemployed

1,330

Not in Labour Force

6,805

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

7.3%

Children (0–17)

7.5%

Adults (18–64)

6.3%

Seniors (65+)

10.0%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.2900 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.259

Essex Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

19,495 (92.9%)

French Only

5 (0.0%)

English & French

1,440 (6.9%)

Neither

40 (0.2%)

Mother Tongue

English

19,150 (91.3%)

French

365 (1.7%)

Non-official languages

1,175 (5.6%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

19,150(91.3%)

French

365(1.7%)

Portuguese

270(1.3%)

Italian

100(0.5%)

Spanish

50(0.2%)

Polish

50(0.2%)

Arabic

35(0.2%)

Mandarin

35(0.2%)

Punjabi

30(0.1%)

Urdu

20(0.1%)

Essex Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

7,095(84.6%)

Semi-detached

55(0.7%)

Row house

295(3.5%)

Duplex

75(0.9%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

380(4.5%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

60(0.7%)

Movable

420(5.0%)

Community snapshot

About Essex

Essex is a town in Essex County, Ontario, inland from Windsor and Lake Erie in Canada’s far southwest. It combines a small urban centre with surrounding farmland in one of the country’s warmest growing regions. Highways 3 and county roads link toward Windsor, Harrow, and the lake shore. About 21,000 people live in the Town of Essex.

Known for

Town centre for inland Essex County farmland
Warm-climate agriculture near Lake Erie
Proximity to Windsor and the Detroit border region
Rural residential communities around a compact downtown
County service and recreation hub

See & do

Downtown Essex
Local shops and civic buildings in the town centre.
Essex Recreation Complex / parks
Community sports and green space.
Surrounding farm-country drives
Fields and rural roads across Essex County.
Nearby Lake Erie shore (county)
Beaches and wine country a short drive south.
Heritage sites in the town core
Local history buildings and community museums.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution