Living in Essex, CT
Essex is a 10-square-mile Middlesex County town on the Connecticut River with three villages, Essex, Centerbrook and Ivoryton, the Connecticut River Museum and the Essex Steam Train.
Essex at a glance
- Median sale price
- $732,500+4.6% vs last year 92 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 19.26 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$9,900 median-priced home
- Population
- 6,847 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 10.4 sq mi 658 per sq mi
What it is like in Essex
Essex is in Middlesex County, on the lower Connecticut River. It covers 10.4 square miles of land and had 6,847 residents in the facts used for this guide. It borders Deep River, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Lyme and Old Lyme. The town has three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook and Ivoryton.
The area was called Potapoug before the town was incorporated in 1852. Shipbuilding was central to its economy from the Revolution through the Civil War. In April 1814, British forces raided the harbor and burned newly built privateers, an event the town marks each May with a parade. Ivoryton's ivory and piano-parts industry, led by Comstock, Cheney & Co., later shaped the town.
The Connecticut River Museum stands at the end of Main Street, and the Steamboat Dock Site and the Pratt House are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Essex Square, Essex Park, Comstock Park, Hubbard Field, Sunset Pond, Turtle Creek Preserve, South Cove Access and Bushy Hill Nature Preserve are listed in the facts file. Main Street has shops and restaurants, including The Griswold Inn, Black Seal, Noah's at 63 Main and Olive Oyl's.
The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat runs vintage trains and a riverboat on the Connecticut River, and the Ivoryton Playhouse stages plays and musicals. The town holds a Groundhog Day parade, the Loser's Day Parade commemorating the 1814 raid, and a Shad Bake in June.
Getting around from Essex
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 48 min | 37 |
| New Haven | 43 min | 31 |
| Stamford | 98 min | 70 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 151 min | 106 |
| Boston | 156 min | 127 |
| Providence | 95 min | 77 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 70 min | 51 |
Rail stations nearby
- Old Saybrook 3.9 mi CTrail Hartford Line, Amtrak
- Westbrook 4.6 mi Shore Line East, CTrail Hartford Line
- Clinton 7.7 mi Shore Line East, CTrail Hartford Line
Highways and routes
The nearest rail stations in the facts file are Old Saybrook (CTrail Hartford Line and Amtrak, 3.9 miles in a straight line), Westbrook (Shore Line East and CTrail Hartford Line, 4.6 miles) and Clinton (Shore Line East and CTrail Hartford Line, 7.7 miles). The Estuary Transit District provides public transit in the area.
New Haven is 31 miles and 43 minutes by car, Hartford 37 miles and 48 minutes, and Bradley Airport 51 miles and 70 minutes. Stamford is 70 miles and 98 minutes, Providence 77 miles and 95 minutes, Boston 127 miles and 156 minutes, and Midtown New York City 106 miles and 151 minutes.
Schools in Essex
1 public school in Essex School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 1
- Essex
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Essex School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Essex
Open Essex in Google Maps →Eat and drink 14
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Seaport pub serving New England seafood, steaks and grill dishes, with a bar, open seven days.
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Pizzeria in Centerbrook serving pizza and Italian-American dishes for takeout and delivery.
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Prepared-foods market and mercantile across from the Essex Steam Train, with online ordering for pickup and delivery.
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Waterfront restaurant at Dauntless Shipyard marina overlooking the Connecticut River and Essex Island.
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Coffee and tea shop on Main Street in Essex village.
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Chocolate and fudge shop in a converted 1800s house, open year-round.
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Restaurant inside Essex Boatworks serving seafood, a raw bar, cocktails and a weekend brunch.
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Breakfast and lunch spot with pastries, breakfast sandwiches, soups and salads, open Tuesday through Sunday.
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Thin-crust brick oven pizza and sandwiches at the foot of Main Street, with groceries and provisions.
Show 5 more
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Cafe and bakery in Centerbrook making desserts, sandwiches and salads, with grab-and-go cases.
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Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar in Centerbrook, closed Mondays.
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Tavern and restaurant on Westbrook Road serving lunch and dinner.
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Brewpub serving house beer and wood-fired pizza beside the Essex Steam Train entrance.
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Historic inn on Main Street with a restaurant and tavern bar, in operation since 1776.
Things to do and see 3
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Museum in a steamboat warehouse at the end of Main Street, on the history of the Connecticut River.
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Vintage steam and diesel train rides and a riverboat on the Connecticut River, run by the Valley Railroad Company since 1971.
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Regional theater in Ivoryton staging plays and musicals; a holiday show runs November 19 to December 20, 2026.
Parks, preserves and trails 26
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Essex housing market
Over the last 12 months, 92 homes sold in Essex with a median sale price of $732,500 and a median of 18 days on market. There are 29 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $376 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 4.6% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 3.8 months.
Essex's town-wide property tax rate is 19.26 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $9,900 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Essex
See all 29 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Essex.
Questions about Essex
What is the median home price in Essex, CT?
The median sale price in Essex is $732,500, based on 92 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Essex, CT?
Essex's town-wide property tax rate is 19.26 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $9,900 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Essex, CT from Hartford?
Essex is about 37 miles and a 48-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Essex, CT from New York City?
Essex is about 106 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 151-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Essex, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is Old Saybrook (CTrail Hartford Line, Amtrak) about 3.9 miles from the center of Essex. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Essex, CT?
Essex has about 6,847 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 10.4 square miles.
How many public schools are in Essex, CT?
Essex has 1 public school in Essex School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Essex, CT?
There are 29 homes for sale in Essex right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Which train stations are near Essex?
Old Saybrook, 3.9 miles in a straight line, has CTrail Hartford Line and Amtrak service. Westbrook is 4.6 miles and Clinton 7.7 miles away, both with Shore Line East and CTrail Hartford Line service.
What villages make up Essex?
Essex Village, Centerbrook and Ivoryton.
How far is Essex from New Haven and Hartford?
New Haven is 31 miles and about 43 minutes by car. Hartford is 37 miles and about 48 minutes away.
What events does Essex hold?
A Groundhog Day parade, the Loser's Day Parade each May commemorating the 1814 British raid, and a Shad Bake in June.
Which towns border Essex?
Deep River, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Lyme and Old Lyme.
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