Town comparison
Billericay vs Chipping Ongar
Which is better to live in? 9.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Chipping Ongar is about 3% cheaper on average. Chipping Ongar has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chipping Ongar edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Billericay
£588,207
Chipping Ongar
£568,739
Crime Rate
Billericay
85.3
Chipping Ongar
64.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Billericay
83.3%
Chipping Ongar
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Billericay
419.2
Chipping Ongar
445.8
EPC Rating
Billericay
71
Chipping Ongar
71.2
Median Income
Billericay
£38,650
Chipping Ongar
£37,208
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Chipping Ongar is £568,739, which is 3% less than Billericay at £588,207. The most affordable entry point in Billericay is a flat at £238,151, while in Chipping Ongar it is a flat at £237,182.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 17% pricier in Chipping Ongar (£460,618 vs £380,681).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Billericay prices grew faster — 32% vs 13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 64.3 offences per 1,000 people, Chipping Ongar is the safer of the two – 33% lower than Billericay's 85.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Billericay is violent-crime, while in Chipping Ongar 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 EnglandChipping Ongar has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 83.3% in Billericay. Billericay has 10 schools in total, while Chipping Ongar has 1.
Billericay School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chipping Ongar School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Billericay | Chipping Ongar |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 1 |
| Primary | 8 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Chipping Ongar offers faster average downloads at 445.8 Mbps, compared to 419.2 Mbps in Billericay. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.9% of premises in Billericay and 91.6% in Chipping Ongar. Gigabit availability stands at 80.9% in Billericay and 88.3% in Chipping Ongar.
Chipping Ongar is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (446 vs 419 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Chipping Ongar are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.2 (band C) versus 71 (band C) in Billericay. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,108 in Billericay and £1,220 in Chipping Ongar. 67% of homes in Billericay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.4% in Chipping Ongar.
Billericay has more energy-efficient housing — 67% reach band C or above, vs 65.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,649.5 in Billericay and £37,207.5 in Chipping Ongar. The median age is 43.2 in Billericay and 44.3 in Chipping Ongar. Employment rates stand at 60.1% in Billericay and 60.8% in Chipping Ongar. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Billericay versus 70.5% in Chipping Ongar.
| Indicator | Billericay | Chipping Ongar |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,068 | 3,922 |
| Median Age | 43.2 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £38,649.5 | £37,207.5 |
| Employment Rate | 60.1% | 60.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 70.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30% | 34.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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