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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Essex, MA Housing Affordability Index

Essex, Massachusetts has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 81.1 (Moderately Less Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 80th most affordable of 193 scored Massachusetts cities, compared with 76.0 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $797,100 home with 20% down, the Massachusetts average 30-year fixed rate of 7.10% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $4,286, or 32% of the city’s $161,250 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Essex is updated every night from live Massachusetts mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Essex MBR-HAI 81.1 Moderately Less Affordable
Rank in Massachusetts 80 of 193 1 = most affordable
Massachusetts 76.0 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.10% Massachusetts lenders
Median home value $797,100 U.S. Census Bureau

Essex is 5.1 points above the Massachusetts score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Massachusetts index

View Essex Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Essex

$4,286/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.10%
$183,700
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$161,250
Median Household Income
Massachusetts: $103,960
4.9x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Massachusetts: 5.4x
$2,568/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$6,085/yr
Median Property Tax
Massachusetts figure
29.9%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
60.8%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Essex, Massachusetts. The rate is the Massachusetts average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Essex Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Essex, Massachusetts score: 81.1 (Moderately Less Affordable), ranked 80 of 193 Massachusetts cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/massachusetts/essex”