Town Pop. 99,631

Living in Colchester: Liveability Score 60/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Colchester scores 60/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, transport stands out most: 74/100 where the typical UK town scores 21/100. Safety falls furthest short: 42/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

Notably, nothing falls below 42/100. Most UK towns have at least one category in the 30s or worse. On transport specifically, Colchester sits 9 points below the CO1 district figure of 83/100. That sits 10 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 10% of the towns and villages we score. For the surrounding area, see CO1 postcode district.

OUT OF 100

Average

Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Colchester scores 60 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Colchester.

Or compare:

CO1 1AA CO1 2AA CO1 9AE CO1 CO2 CO3 CO4

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety

110.5 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3

Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months

Violence and sexual offences 4,909 crimes

↑ 48% above national average

Anti-social behaviour 911 crimes

↓ 40% below national average

Shoplifting 865 crimes

↑ 12% above national average

Criminal damage and arson 793 crimes

↑ 18% above national average

Vehicle crime 767 crimes

↑ 60% above national average

other 2,768 crimes

Highest-crime locations

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1 Supermarket 971 crimes
2 Police Station 297 crimes
3 Petrol Station 271 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment

Air Quality NO₂ 9.3 · PM2.5 7.2 · PM10 12 µg/m³

Green Space 53

Parks Ample 61

Sports Pitches Ample 68

Allotments Ample 17

Golf Courses Ample 3

Tennis Courts Ample 34

Bowling Greens Ample 7

Playgrounds Ample 90

Services

Schools

Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 55 in area

5Outstanding40Good2Inadequate8Ungraded

Colchester County High School for GirlsSecondary · inspected 2023
Outstanding
Home Farm Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
Outstanding
Lakelands Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
Outstanding
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, ColchesterPrimary · inspected 2023
Outstanding
The St Aubyn Centre Education DepartmentAlternative provision · inspected 2023
Outstanding
Braiswick Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Broomgrove Infant SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Broomgrove Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Camulos AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Colchester AcademySecondary · inspected 2023
Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Healthcare

A&E departmentsColchester General Hospitalin area

Ipswich Hospital14 mi

Broomfield Hospital16.9 mi

Hospital waitsEast Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust0.3 mi

Routine referral (median)12 wks

Treated within 18 weeks60.2%

A&E seen within 4 hrs76.7%

9 GP surgeries in area best 'Good'

GP capacity2,282 patients per GP

31dentists22pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband

Full fibre (FTTP)62.6%

available across Colchester

Gigabit-capable · incl. cable

89.9%

Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)

89.8%

Superfast (30+ Mbps)

98.6%

Ofcom Connected Nations · 2,802 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health

Employment rate58.3%

Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+

Economic activity (16+)

Employed58.3%Unemployed3.8%Retired19.9%Student7.5%Other inactive10.5%

Occupation mix

Professional & managerial39.7%Skilled & technical32.6%Routine & elementary27.7%

Highest qualification (16+)

No qualifications16.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.7%Level 3 (A levels)20%Level 4+ (degree & above)31.1%Apprenticeship5%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%

Home ownership62.1%

Around the England average for deprivation

Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD

Bills

Council tax Colchester · 2026-27

A £1,522

B £1,776

C £2,029

D £2,283

E £2,790

F £3,298

G £3,805

H £4,566

Energy Eastern England region

Typical bill regional £1,641/yr

Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026

Typical home efficiency local EPC band C

Water Anglian Water

Average bill regional £498/yr

Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Colchester Town 0.5 mi

Colchester 0.7 mi

Hythe (Colchester) 1.4 mi

J8 M11 29.7 mi

J8A M11 30 mi

Lifestyle

Pubs & Bars Ample 61

Restaurants & Cafes Ample 170

Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 92

Retail Shopping Ample 635

Takeaways Ample 92

Fitness Ample 67

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type	Median price	Sales
All dwellings	£310,000	856
Detached	£437,500	230
Semi-detached	£326,000	237
Terraced	£270,000	227
Flat / Maisonette	£174,500	162

5-year monthly trend

All Detached Semi Terraced Flat

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Frequently asked questions

Is Colchester a nice place to live?

Colchester is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Colchester is 60/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Colchester?

Colchester has above-average crime levels. Our safety score is 42/100. There were 11,013 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Colchester?

Among the top-rated schools in Colchester are Colchester County High School for Girls, Home Farm Primary School and Lakelands Primary School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 55 rated schools in Colchester in total.

What are house prices like in Colchester?

The current median house price in Colchester is £310,000, around 9% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £437,500, semi-detached £326,000, terraced £270,000, flat £174,500. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 11%. There were 856 sales recorded in the past 12 months.