<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule containes summary financial information extracted from Essex
Property Trust, Inc. year ended report for the three months ended September
30, 1997
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000920522                   
<NAME>                                         ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
                                    
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JUL-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997

<CASH>                                         24,443
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  22,149
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               55,925
<PP&E>                                         597,790
<DEPRECIATION>                                 53,916
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 597,790
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          31,708
<BONDS>                                       187,926
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    1
<COMMON>                                       1
<OTHER-SE>                                     349,779
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   597,790
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               21,975
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  10,199
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               2,276
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             3,118
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                12,612
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            12,612
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   10,967
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.69