Essex is a small, scenic town on the North Shore with a character unlike anywhere else in the region. It’s famous for its antique dealers, its working boatyards along the Essex River, and of course, Woodman’s – the clam shack credited with inventing the fried clam. The housing market here is relatively modest in size but offers genuine New England charm, with saltbox and cape-style homes set along winding country roads and tidal marshes.