Town Pop. 309

Living in Matching Green: Liveability Score 29/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Matching Green scores 29/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 10/100 versus a median of 60/100. The CM17 district averages 59/100, putting Matching Green 30 points below its own postcode area.

That is 21 points below the national benchmark of 50, the bottom 10% of all UK towns and villages. Healthcare (8), transport (14), lifestyle (17) and schools (20) all fall below 30/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: CM17 postcode district.

29
OUT OF 100
Poor
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.

Matching Green scores 29 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Matching Green.
Or compare:
CM17 0AA CM17 9AA CM17

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
45
1,411 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 110 crimes
↑ 969% above national average
Shoplifting 94 crimes
↑ 3800% above national average
Other theft 53 crimes
↑ 2666% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 44 crimes
↑ 1994% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 34 crimes
↑ 624% above national average
other 101 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Petrol Station 121 crimes
  2. 2 Rye Hill Road 28 crimes
  3. 3 Park Avenue 21 crimes

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

Environment
56
Air Quality NO₂ 6.8 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 12.4 µg/m³
71
Green Space 22
Parks Adequate 2
Sports Pitches Adequate 4
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
20
1 school in area · 2 within 4km
1Good
  • Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
8
A&E departmentsPrincess Alexandra Hospital5.7 mi
Broomfield Hospital10 mi
King George Hospital14.1 mi
Hospital waitsGreat Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust4 mi
Routine referral (median)9 wks
Treated within 18 weeks74.4%
Nearest GP surgeryThe Eden Surgeries2.8 mi
GP capacity1,501 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

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
10
Full fibre (FTTP)71.5%
available across Epping Forest
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
0%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
0%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 15 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
65
Employment rate57.7%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed57.7%Unemployed2.3%Retired24.9%Student4.2%Other inactive10.9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.2%Skilled & technical38.8%Routine & elementary17%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications18.5%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.1%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.8%Level 3 (A levels)17.8%Level 4+ (degree & above)27.3%Apprenticeship5.9%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership76%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
56
Council tax Epping Forest · 2026-27
A £1,518
B £1,771
C £2,024
D £2,277
E £2,783
F £3,289
G £3,795
H £4,554
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
14
Sawbridgeworth 3.8 mi
Harlow Mill 4.1 mi
Harlow Town 5.6 mi
J7A M11 2.4 mi
J7A M11 2.5 mi
J7A M11 2.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
17
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Some 1
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 3

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Matching Green in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Moreton (Epping Forest) 40 2.5 mi away ⇄
Sheering 35 2.5 mi away ⇄
Hatfield Heath 53 2.7 mi away ⇄
Fyfield 44 3.3 mi away ⇄
Hatfield Broad Oak 36 3.5 mi away ⇄
Sawbridgeworth 55 4.1 mi away ⇄
Shelley (Epping Forest) 49 4.3 mi away ⇄
Little Hallingbury 52 4.6 mi away ⇄
North Weald Bassett 45 4.8 mi away ⇄
Harlow 59 5.0 mi away ⇄
Spellbrook 45 5.0 mi away ⇄
Chipping Ongar 47 5.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Matching Green a nice place to live?

Matching Green scores below average as a place to live. Our liveability score for Matching Green is 29/100, placing it among one of the lower-scoring areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Matching Green?

Matching Green has crime levels around the national average. Our safety score is 45/100. There were 436 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Matching Green?

Among the top-rated schools in Matching Green is Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Matching Green in total.

Matching Green in context

See the best places to live in Essex, ranked

Postcode districts in Matching Green

CM17 59 ⇄

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