Living in Essex: A Community Guide

Community Overview

The town of Essex extends from the center of Essex County to the shoreline of Lake Erie. Comprising four communities -- Essex Centre, Harrow, Colchester, and McGregor -- the town is home to about 20,000 residents. 

Those living in Essex enjoy a quiet, country lifestyle without sacrificing the luxuries of city living because the town is only a 30 minute drive from Windsor and Detroit. Since Essex shares the same latitude as Northern California and the French Riviera, the town experiences hot summers and mild winters. 

 Essex is known for its safety and affordability. In fact, Statistics Canada ranked Essex #13 out of 300+ communities for safety, making it one of the most secure places to live in all of Canada!

Housing Options and Neighborhoods

Since housing prices in Essex are among the lowest in Canada, many people are able to find or even build their dream homes. Essex provides housing options to accommodate several different lifestyles as it offers everything from rural landscapes to waterfront properties through its four communities: Essex Centre, Harrow, Colchester, and McGregor.

Essex Centre, the largest of the four communities, is at the center of Essex County. Its urban layout offers local shops and services for residents to enjoy, and its central location means residents quickly access any part of the County within minutes.

Harrow serves the agricultural community and those who prefer the more rural lifestyle. It is also home to the research centre for greenhouse vegetables and field crops owned by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as well as local shops and vendors. 

Colchester is the town’s waterfront community located on the shores of Lake Erie. It is known to be one of the region’s oldest communities with its founding dated back to 1792. Colchester is home to a marina and a gorgeous public beach. 

McGregor, like Harrow, is strongly rooted in agriculture. It is known for its outdoor sports activities and festivals. It also houses the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum which is the largest steam engine museum in Ontario.

City Gems

Given the town’s location, Essex is uniquely suited for amazing experiences both indoor and outdoor. Essex offers a ton of recreation programs, facilities, harbours, parks, and trails for those who enjoy sports and activities. Since the agricultural lands are some of the most fertile in the province, it is easy for residents to find fresh, locally-grown food through restaurants, roadside stands, and pick-your-own food farms. There is so much to do in Essex, but here a few favorites locals enjoy. 

Fairs and Festivals

Under normal circumstances, residents of Essex enjoy several community fairs festivals throughout the year. Most are family friendly, and with the range of options, there is a festival for everyone to enjoy. Below is an interactive list of community festivals held in Essex. Click the links for more details about the events:

• Maple Syrup Festival
• Colchester Walleye Fishing Derby
• McGregor Music Festival
• Essex Fun Fest
• Explore the Shore
• Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Show
• Harrow Fair
• McGregor Mug Run & International Beer Fest

Local Wineries

Essex County has nationally-recognized 17 wineries, and 9 of which can be found in the town of Essex! The warm climate combined with the rich agricultural lands and lake shoreline position the town as the premier grape-growing region in Essex County. Not only do the wineries serve world class wine, they also serve as event venues for weddings and other events! Oxley Estate Winery, Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, and Cooper's Hawk Vineyards are among some of the favorite wineries in Essex. 

Colchester Harbour and Beach

Colchester Beach is located on the north shore of Lake Erie and is one of cleanest and most attractive beaches in Essex County. Locals enjoy beach activities such as lounging on the shore, playing beach volleyball, and swimming in the lake. There is also a Pirate Ship Playground and Splash Pad next to the beach. Colchester Harbour offers opportunities for water sport activities such as boating, fishing, and jet skiing. During the boating season the harbour offers monthly and seasonal dockage for boats and other watercrafts. Colchester Harbour also has an outdoor concession, an onsite bait and tackle shop, 24-hour security, and new washroom facilities. 

Schools

The town of Essex offers many educational options for public and private school students. Essex has six elementary schools (with one French-Immersion program), two secondary schools, and one private school.

School boards and schools available to Essex:

• Greater Essex County District School Board (Public)
• Colchester North Public School
• Essex Public School
• Harrow Public School
• Essex District High School
• Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (Catholic)
• Holy Name Catholic Elementary School
• St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School
• Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence (Catholic French)
• Sainte-Ursule écoles élémentaire catholique

• Private Elementary SchoolS

• Rock of Help Christian Academy

For students seeking local postsecondary education, St. Clair College and the University of Windsor are within a 30-minute drive from Essex.

Business

With two active business associations to support local entrepreneurs and access to the four urban communities (Essex Centre, Harrow, Colchester, and McGregor), Essex is great for business development. Offices for the two associations, Essex Community Futures Development Corporation and the Windsor-Essex Small Business Centre, are located in Essex Centre. Essex is known for its agricultural industry since its climate and soil make it ideal for commercial farming. Given the town’s proximity to Windsor and Detroit, Essex residents also have access to employment opportunities in those cities. 

Real Estate

Thinking about buying in Essex? Contact Kris Ramotar at 519.259.9310 to learn more about the Essex community and to find a property that fits your needs!