Town Pop. 7,674

Living in Runwell: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Runwell scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is healthcare: 56/100 against a national town median of 18/100. Safety falls furthest short: 64/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

That makes it the 3rd highest-scoring of the 7 places in the SS11 postcode district. On the national picture that lands Runwell in the top quarter of all the places we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: SS11 postcode district.

56
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.

Runwell scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Runwell.
Or compare:
SS11 7AA SS11 8AA SS11 9AG SS11 SS12

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
64
83.7 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 245 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 106 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Criminal damage and arson 65 crimes
↑ 25% above national average
Public order 41 crimes
↓ 18% below national average
Other theft 35 crimes
↓ 26% below national average
other 150 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 High Street 69 crimes
  2. 2 Arundel Road 46 crimes
  3. 3 Meadow Lane 36 crimes

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

Environment
57
Air Quality NO₂ 9.5 · PM2.5 7.4 · PM10 12 µg/m³
68
Green Space 31
Parks Ample 6
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
54
10 schools in area · 16 within 4km
1Outstanding6Good3Ungraded
  • The Wickford Church of England SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • Children's Support ServiceAlternative provision · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Hilltop Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • North Crescent Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Rettendon Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Runwell Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Wickford Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Beauchamps High SchoolSecondary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded
  • Hilltop Infant SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded
  • St Luke's Park Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded

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

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

Healthcare
56
A&E departmentsBasildon University Hospital4.9 mi
Southend University Hospital8.1 mi
Broomfield Hospital10 mi
Hospital waitsMid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust1.1 mi
Routine referral (median)17 wks
Treated within 18 weeks50.6%
A&E seen within 4 hrs68%
Nearest GP surgerySwanwood Partnership1.1 mi
GP capacity1,837 patients per GP
2dentists0pharmacies

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
69
Full fibre (FTTP)73.7%
available across Basildon
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
93.6%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
93.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.4%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 166 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
65
Employment rate56.6%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed56.6%Unemployed2.4%Retired29.6%Student2.8%Other inactive8.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial37.5%Skilled & technical38.2%Routine & elementary24.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications22.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)12.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.4%Level 3 (A levels)17.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)21.2%Apprenticeship6.5%Other (incl. vocational)3.3%
Home ownership80.1%
Among the least-deprived 32% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
58
Council tax Basildon · 2026-27
A £1,551
B £1,810
C £2,068
D £2,327
E £2,844
F £3,361
G £3,878
H £4,654
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

Transport
52
Wickford 0.8 mi
Battlesbridge 1.7 mi
South Woodham Ferrers 3.8 mi
J29 M25 11 mi
J29 M25 11 mi
J29 M25 11 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
24
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 2
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 3
Retail Shopping Some 2
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £401,250 54
Detached £600,000 19
Semi-detached £397,500 18
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£201k £336k £476k £612k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Wickford 58 1.1 mi away ⇄
Brock Hill 45 1.4 mi away ⇄
Downham 50 1.6 mi away ⇄
Coalhill 40 1.8 mi away ⇄
Ramsden Bellhouse 50 1.9 mi away ⇄
Battlesbridge 35 1.9 mi away ⇄
Nevendon 44 2.1 mi away ⇄
Rawreth 44 2.2 mi away ⇄
Rettendon 32 2.3 mi away ⇄
Ramsden Heath 50 2.3 mi away ⇄
Crays Hill 44 2.9 mi away ⇄
North Benfleet 45 3.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Runwell a nice place to live?

Runwell is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Runwell is 56/100, 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 Runwell?

Runwell has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 64/100. There were 642 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Runwell?

Among the top-rated schools in Runwell are The Wickford Church of England School, Children's Support Service and Hilltop Junior School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 10 rated schools in Runwell in total.

What are house prices like in Runwell?

The current median house price in Runwell is £401,250, around 41% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £600,000, semi-detached £397,500. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 5%. There were 54 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Runwell in context

See where Runwell ranks among the best places to live in Essex

Postcode districts in Runwell

SS11 57 ⇄
SS12 55 ⇄

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