When author Norman Crompton wrote a book compiling the best small towns in America, he included Essex in the list.

Essex was in the top of "The Best 100 Small Towns in America." Its ranking reflects a combination of factors, including education, low crime rates, annual growth and income.

Dating back to the mid-17th centery, Essex sits on the west bank of the Connecticut River, upstream from Long Island Sound. It includes the villages of Ivoryton and Centerbrook. Today, Essex retains its early 18th century New England charm with its tree-lined streets. An interesting historical fact is that Essex is one of the few American towns to ever be attacked by a foreign power. The attack occurred on April 8, 1814, and the economic losses were among the largest sustained by the United States during the War of 1812. Twenty eight vessels, with a total value estimated to be close to $200,000 were destroyed by the British . Some referred to it as the "Pearl Harbor" of that war.

Essex is fortunate to have wonderful artifacts from the past. Great houses, such as the Dickinson Mansion on North Main Street in Essex Village, to the mansions of A. W. Comstock (currently the Copper Beech Inn) and R. H. Comstock in Ivoryton, still stand today. They are in great contrast to the smaller capes in the village of Centerbrook and the factory dwellings in the village of Ivoryton. However, they are all equally important in telling us of our past.

Some national historic sites located in Essex include Benjamin Bushnell Farm Christeen (sloop) Centerbrook Congregational Church Pratt House Essex Freight Station Steamboat Dock Site Hill's Academy

The town has a total area of 11.8 square miles. 10.4 square miles of it is land and 1.5 square miles of it is water.

Essex is comprised of three villages: Essex (ZIP code 06426), Centerbrook (06409) and Ivoryton (06442). Essex Elementary School, has a population of around 560 students for grades K-6.

The Essex Fire Department has two fire houses: the central fire house and the sub-station in Ivoryton on Summit Street. The Fire Department is the first responder for medical emergencies. The Essex Police Department is attached to the town hall. It is comprised of a resident state trooper and 5 constables. A Connecticut State Police trooper supervises the constables. The Chief of Police is the First Selectman.The Essex Ambulance Association is an independent association, which was founded in 1964, is composed of 32 volunteers with MRT and EMT certifications. The association operates three ambulances and provides mutual aide to all surrounding towns.

Essex has two libraries: one next to the Town Hall and one in the center of Ivoryton. The library near the Town Hall was recently rebuilt and is a center for the community.

There are eight active churches in town. These include two Episcopal churches and three Congregational Churches. There is one Baptist Church and one Catholic Church located next to each other. The Lutheran Church sits on Main Street in Centerbrook. The building that once housed the Methodist church is no longer in use. The First Baptist Church of Essex, Connecticut, built in 1846, is notable for being one of only three Egyptian revival churches known to have ever been built in the United States.

There are many leisure and cultural activies in Essex. Summer recreation activities abound along the coast. The town promotes and maintains beaches, and boating and fishing areas. Attractions such as the 1920s Essex Steam Train and Riverboat are among Connecticut's most popular tourist stops. The town of Essex sponsors an annual Groundhog Day parade. The town also sponsors a "Loser's Day Parade," which celebrates the 1814 event of ships being attacked by British marines in Essex Harbor. The Essex Rotary Club sponsors a Shad Bake every spring. One of the most famous and popular Essex attractions is the Essex Steam Train. The main station is located in Centerbrook. Other stations are located in Deep River, Chester, and Haddam. The train ride goes from Essex to Deep River and then the Becky Thatcher Riverboat takes the passengers up to the Haddam area. In addition, the Essex Clipper Dinner Train goes from Essex all the way up to Haddam.The Copper Beech Inn in Ivoryton has thirteen rooms and two fine-dining restaurants. The Griswold Inn in downtown Essex has thirty rooms and a restaurant. The Essex Art Association Gallery was founded in 1946 by a group of avante garde artists. Housed in an historic schoolhouse, its artists are invited to take part in the six shows held each season. The Ivoryton Playhouse is a regional theater located in Essex's village of Ivoryton. The theater produces plays and musicals each year. The Connecticut River Museum is home to numerous river artifacts and the Connecticut River Eagle Festival each year.

Essex is part of Regional School District 4 together with Chester and Deep River. It has its own middle school and shares regional junior and senior high schools in Deep River. Essex Elementary School is located in Centerbrook and serves students in grades K-6. John Winthrop Junior High School is located in Deep River, serving grades 7 and 8. Valley Regional High School is also located in Deep River, serving grades 9-12.