Basildon vs Brentwood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Basildon is about 42% cheaper on average. Brentwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brentwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Basildon
£352,811
Brentwood
£611,158
Crime Rate
Basildon
85.3
Brentwood
64.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Basildon
91.3%
Brentwood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Basildon
430.5
Brentwood
371.6
EPC Rating
Basildon
71.5
Brentwood
69.5
Median Income
Basildon
£33,820
Brentwood
£41,192
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Basildon more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £352,811 versus £611,158 in Brentwood. The most affordable entry point in Basildon is a flat at £189,398, while in Brentwood it is a flat at £311,789.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 46% pricier in Brentwood (£1,011,300 vs £541,660).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Basildon prices grew faster — 26% vs 24%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Brentwood (64 per 1,000) compared to Basildon (85.3 per 1,000), a 33% difference. The most common crime category in Basildon is violent-crime, while in Brentwood 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 Brentwood: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.3% in Basildon.
Basildon School Inspection Breakdown
91.3% of 33 schools (28 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brentwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 18 schools (13 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Basildon | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 33 | 18 |
| Primary | 28 | 13 |
| Secondary | 5 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 91.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Basildon enjoy 430.5 Mbps on average, while Brentwood lags behind at 371.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.7% of premises in Basildon and 96.6% in Brentwood. Gigabit availability stands at 84.1% in Basildon and 69.9% in Brentwood.
Basildon is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (431 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Basildon is band C (score 71.5), ahead of Brentwood's band C (score 69.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,033 in Basildon and £1,151 in Brentwood. 70% of homes in Basildon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.4% in Brentwood.
Basildon has more energy-efficient housing — 70% reach band C or above, vs 59.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Basildon has a population of 115,679 while Brentwood has 55,339. Median household income is £41,192 in Brentwood and £33,820 in Basildon. The median age is 41.4 in Basildon and 43.6 in Brentwood. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Basildon and 59.9% in Brentwood.
| Indicator | Basildon | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,679 | 55,339 |
| Median Age | 41.4 | 43.6 |
| Median Household Income | £33,820 | £41,192 |
| Employment Rate | 59.9% | 59.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.2% | 70.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 24.6% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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