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Last updated May 2026
Grays — green grass field near brown bare trees during daytime

Area guide · Essex

Living in Grays

A snapshot of life in Grays, East of England — house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more, drawn straight from official UK datasets.

Grays: Photo by Samuel Goodwin on Unsplash

At a glance

Grays is a town in Essex, East of England with a population of 44,340. The average house price is £372,903 and the overall crime rate is 84.5 per 1,000 residents.

Where Grays ranks

Population

44,340

Avg House Price

£372,903

Crime Rate

84.5/1k

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

90.9%

Avg Download Speed

457 Mbps

EPC Rating

C

Median Income

£35,318

Median Age

38.5

House Prices (2025)

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Grays's detached homes (£539,402) command roughly 2.6× the price of a flat (£210,246).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Grays prices have risen 14% over the last 9 years (£327,598 → £372,903).

Property TypeAverageMedianSales Count
Detached£539,402£525,000139
Semi-Detached£420,959£420,000225
Terraced£342,877£340,000316
Flat£210,246£215,000233

Crime & safety

The overall crime rate in Grays is 84.5 per 1,000 residents.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Most common offence in Grays: violent crime (34% of all recorded crimes).

Schools & Education

School Inspection Breakdown

90.9% of 12 schools (8 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

School Details

Total Schools12
Primary8
Secondary4
% Top two bands90.9%

Schools in this area

SchoolPhaseRating
Belmont Castle AcademyPrimaryGood
Deneholm Primary SchoolPrimaryGood
Grays Convent High SchoolSecondaryGood
Little Thurrock Primary SchoolPrimaryGood
Quarry Hill AcademyPrimaryOutstanding
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary SchoolPrimaryGood
Stifford Clays Primary SchoolPrimaryGood
Thames Park Secondary SchoolSecondaryGood
Thameside Primary SchoolPrimaryNo rating available
The Hathaway AcademySecondaryGood
William Edwards SchoolSecondaryRequires improvement
Woodside AcademyPrimaryGood

Broadband & Connectivity

Grays averages 457 Mbps — 357% above the typical UK download speed.

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Most Grays homes sit at band C on the EPC scale. 61.9% of homes reach band C or above.

Average EPC RatingC
Average EPC Score69.8
% Rated C or Above61.9%
Avg Energy Cost (per year)£1,043

Demographics & Economy

Population44,340
Median Age38.5
Median Household Income£35,318
Employment Rate63%
Owner Occupied63.3%
Degree-Level Qualified26.2%

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the average house price in Grays?
The average house price in Grays is £372,903 based on Land Registry sales in 2025.
What is the cheapest type of property to buy in Grays?
The most affordable entry point in Grays is a flat, with an average price of £210,246.
Is Grays a safe place to live?
Grays has a recorded crime rate of 84.5 per 1,000 residents. Whether that feels "safe" depends on the comparison — see how it stacks up against nearby towns in the rankings below.
How are the schools in Grays?
Grays has 12 schools in total, with 90.9% rated in the top two inspection bands by the relevant inspectorate.
What broadband speeds are available in Grays?
Average broadband download speeds in Grays are around 457 Mbps. Superfast (30 Mbps+) coverage reaches 96.2% of premises.
How big is Grays?
Grays is a settlement in Essex with a population of approximately 44,340.

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How does Grays stack up against its neighbours?

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