PlainZIP

Essex, CT · standard

ZIP Code 06426

Middlesex County, Connecticut - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

3,245
219/sq mi
$103,705
Median income
$729,200
Median home value
63.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Essex pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 17%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 6%
home value, US ZIPs
219
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 06426 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 06426 covers 14.8 square miles in Essex, Middlesex County, Connecticut (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,245 residents on file, a density of 219 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 06426 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $103,705 (8% below the Connecticut average), while per-capita income is $80,442. Poverty here runs at 6.0%, with unemployment measured at 2.7%. Housing costs here run $729,200 for a typical home value (68% above the state average), with rent averaging $1,860 a month; 82.3% of homes are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 63.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 59.5, and the average commute is -. To put 06426 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Middlesex County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 06426

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Essex, CT

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 06426.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 06426, Essex, CT · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

3,245

Population

14.8

Area (sq mi)

219

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 06426?

59.5

Median Age

48.7%

Male

51.3%

Female

7.6%

Foreign-Born

White 90.5%
African American 2.6%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$103,705

Median Household Income

-8% vs state

$80,442

Per Capita Income

6.0%

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 06426 ranks nationally

Essex, CT household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$103,705 Top 17% higher than 83% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 75.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 63.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

1,682

Total Housing Units

1,517

Occupied Units

165

Vacant Units

2.04

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 82.3%
Renter 17.7%

$729,200

Median Home Value

+68% vs state

$1,860

Median Rent

1967

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+16.8%

YoY Change (2024)

247

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+147%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 06426 have increased 16.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +147% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.2% 159
2021 +6.9% 170
2022 +16.5% 198
2023 +6.9% 211
2024 +16.8% 247

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 195 business establishments in ZIP 06426, employing approximately 2,087 people with a combined annual payroll of $151,531,000.

195

Businesses

2,087

Employees

$151.5M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 25 12.8%
Retail trade 21 10.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 21 10.8%
Finance and insurance 19 9.7%
Accommodation and food services 16 8.2%
Construction 14 7.2%
Wholesale trade 14 7.2%
Other services (except public administration) 14 7.2%
Manufacturing 11 5.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 11 5.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 4.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 4.1%
Transportation and warehousing 5 2.6%
Information 5 2.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 06426 vs 06409 →

ZIP 06426 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 06426 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 06426 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 06426 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
06409 Centerbrook, CT 693 1.1 mi
06442 Ivoryton, CT 2,745 2.5 mi
06475 Old Saybrook, CT 10,242 3.6 mi
06417 Deep River, CT 4,629 3.5 mi
06371 Old Lyme, CT 9,952 3.8 mi
06498 Westbrook, CT 6,963 4.7 mi
06423 East Haddam, CT 5,097 7.9 mi
06412 Chester, CT 3,994 5.7 mi
06413 Clinton, CT 13,235 7.8 mi
06376 South Lyme, CT 57 8.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County

06457 standard
Middletown, CT
Pop: 47,648
06416 standard
Cromwell, CT
Pop: 14,005
06413 standard
Clinton, CT
Pop: 13,235
06424 standard
East Hampton, CT
Pop: 12,808
06475 standard
Old Saybrook, CT
Pop: 10,242
06480 standard
Portland, CT
Pop: 9,508

Related Areas

Middlesex County Essex, CT Connecticut

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 06426 in? ▼
ZIP code 06426 (Essex) is located in Middlesex County, Connecticut. Middlesex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/middlesex-ct.
What is the population of ZIP code 06426? ▼
ZIP code 06426 in Essex, CT has a population of 3,245 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 06426? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 06426 is $103,705, which is 36% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 06426? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 06426 is $729,200, which is 162% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 06426? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 06426 is White at 90.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 06426? ▼
ZIP code 06426 has 195 business establishments employing approximately 2,087 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 06426? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 06426 are: Health care and social assistance (25), Retail trade (21), Professional, scientific, and technical services (21). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 06426? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 06426 increased by 16.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 147%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 06426? ▼
In ZIP code 06426, 75.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 63.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 06426? ▼
In ZIP code 06426, approximately 82.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 17.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 06426? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 06426 is 6.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.