Safety in Essex
Essex doesn’t have its own police figures in the FBI’s data. Below are the nearest towns that have their own numbers.
What stands out about safety in Essex
The closest towns that report their own numbers
Here are the nearest towns with their own police departments in the FBI’s data. Tap one to see its safety page.
| Town | Grade | Distance | Violent | Property | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | C+ | 7 mi | 0.4 | 14 | 2025 |
| East Lyme | A | 10 mi | 0.2 | 4.9 | 2025 |
| Madison | A+ | 11 mi | 0.1 | 1.5 | 2025 |
| Waterford | B | 14 mi | 0.3 | 11.7 | 2025 |
| Guilford | A− | 15 mi | 0.4 | 7.3 | 2025 |
| U.S. average | 3.3 | 15.5 | 2025 |
Reported crimes per 1,000 residents in each town’s latest year; * = a count, for towns under 1,000 people; — = not graded. Distances are straight-line. Nearby towns can be very different from Essex: a small village and a city aren’t alike.
Essex and its neighbors
How reported crime compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its safety page.
| Town | Grade | Violent | Property | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Saybrook | B | 0.2 | 11.1 | 2025 |
Reported crimes per 1,000 residents in each town’s latest year; * = a count, for towns under 1,000 people; — = not graded. No town figures in the FBI’s data: Essex Village, Deep River, Lyme, Westbrook, Deep River Center.
Know who to call, and what the weather can do
For emergencies, the nearest ER, and the storms and floods Essex plans for.
Expected damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities. 63 paid flood insurance claims since 1978.
Natural hazards in Essex →Phone numbers come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A number you add goes live once two neighbors confirm it.
Heads-up board
Neighbors looking out for each other in Essex.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Please don’t name or describe individuals. In an emergency, call 911.
Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: offenses known to law enforcement by city, and state and national rates. Counts are crimes reported to police, not convictions. The Safety Grade is our own summary of that data, not an official rating. Natural hazards: FEMA National Risk Index and flood insurance claims. Hospitals: CMS Hospital General Information. This isn’t an official statement of public safety. In an emergency, call 911.