<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains financial information extracted from Essex
     Property Trust, Inc. year ended report for the three months ended
     March 31, 1998
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000920522                       
<NAME>                                         Essex Property Trust, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         19,848
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  19,190
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               45,723
<PP&E>                                         854,574
<DEPRECIATION>                                 61,236
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 845,515
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          44,614
<BONDS>                                        310,322
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    1
<COMMON>                                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                     403,198
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   845,515
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               27,836
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  13,422
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               2,548
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             3,941
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                7,925
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            7,925
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   7,925
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.42