Town comparison
Aveley vs Grays
Which is better to live in? 3.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Aveley offers lower property prices by roughly 1%. Grays has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Grays edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Aveley
£367,814
Grays
£372,903
Crime Rate
Aveley
101.6
Grays
84.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Aveley
66.7%
Grays
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Aveley
463.2
Grays
457.1
EPC Rating
Aveley
69.2
Grays
69.8
Median Income
Aveley
£37,112
Grays
£35,318
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Aveley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £367,814 versus £372,903 in Grays. The most affordable entry point in Aveley is a flat at £166,324, while in Grays it is a flat at £210,246.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 21% pricier in Grays (£210,246 vs £166,324).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Aveley prices grew faster — 19% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 84.5 offences per 1,000 people, Grays is the safer of the two – 20% lower than Aveley's 101.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Aveley is violent-crime, while in Grays 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 EnglandSchool quality favours Grays: 90.9% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 66.7% in Aveley.
Aveley School Inspection Breakdown
66.7% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Grays School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (8 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Aveley | Grays |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 12 |
| Primary | 2 | 8 |
| Secondary | 1 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 66.7% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Aveley enjoy 463.2 Mbps on average, while Grays lags behind at 457.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Aveley and 96.2% in Grays. Gigabit availability stands at 91.7% in Aveley and 87.8% in Grays.
Aveley is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (463 vs 457 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Grays is band C (score 69.8), ahead of Aveley's band C (score 69.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Aveley and £1,043 in Grays. 58.3% of homes in Aveley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.9% in Grays.
Grays has more energy-efficient housing — 61.9% reach band C or above, vs 58.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Aveley has a population of 9,364 while Grays has 44,340. Median household income is £37,111.5 in Aveley and £35,318 in Grays. The median age is 40.4 in Aveley and 38.5 in Grays. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Aveley and 63% in Grays.
| Indicator | Aveley | Grays |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,364 | 44,340 |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 38.5 |
| Median Household Income | £37,111.5 | £35,318 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.4% | 63.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 26.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Aveley and Grays?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Aveley or Grays?
Is Aveley or Grays safer?
Which has better schools, Aveley or Grays?
Which has faster broadband, Aveley or Grays?
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