Town comparison
Aveley vs Buckhurst Hill
Which is better to live in? 12.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Aveley is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 65% lower. Buckhurst Hill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Buckhurst Hill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Aveley
£367,814
Buckhurst Hill
£1,050,945
Crime Rate
Aveley
101.6
Buckhurst Hill
64.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Aveley
66.7%
Buckhurst Hill
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Aveley
463.2
Buckhurst Hill
459.3
EPC Rating
Aveley
69.2
Buckhurst Hill
70.6
Median Income
Aveley
£37,112
Buckhurst Hill
£36,572
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Buckhurst Hill commands an average of £1,050,945, compared with £367,814 in Aveley – a difference of 65%. The most affordable entry point in Aveley is a flat at £166,324, while in Buckhurst Hill it is a flat at £385,605.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 57% pricier in Buckhurst Hill (£385,605 vs £166,324).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Buckhurst Hill prices grew faster — 72% vs 19%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandBuckhurst Hill has a crime rate of 64.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 59% lower than Aveley at 101.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Aveley is violent-crime, while in Buckhurst Hill it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandFamilies may prefer Buckhurst Hill, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 66.7% in Aveley. There are 3 schools in Aveley and 2 in Buckhurst Hill.
Aveley School Inspection Breakdown
66.7% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Buckhurst Hill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Aveley | Buckhurst Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 66.7% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 463.2 Mbps in Aveley and 459.3 Mbps in Buckhurst Hill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Aveley and 99.1% in Buckhurst Hill. Gigabit availability stands at 91.7% in Aveley and 89.1% in Buckhurst Hill.
Aveley is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (463 vs 459 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Buckhurst Hill, scoring 70.6 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Aveley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Aveley and £1,152 in Buckhurst Hill. 58.3% of homes in Aveley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63% in Buckhurst Hill.
Buckhurst Hill has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 58.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,111.5 in Aveley and £36,572 in Buckhurst Hill. The median age is 40.4 in Aveley and 41 in Buckhurst Hill. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Aveley and 59.2% in Buckhurst Hill. Owner-occupancy is 66.4% in Aveley versus 63.3% in Buckhurst Hill. Aveley has a population of 9,364 and Buckhurst Hill has 11,749.
| Indicator | Aveley | Buckhurst Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,364 | 11,749 |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 41 |
| Median Household Income | £37,111.5 | £36,572 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 59.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.4% | 63.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 37.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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