Town comparison
Billericay vs Grays
Which is better to live in? 10.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Grays is about 58% cheaper on average. Grays has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Grays edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Billericay
£588,207
Grays
£372,903
Crime Rate
Billericay
85.3
Grays
84.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Billericay
83.3%
Grays
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Billericay
419.2
Grays
457.1
EPC Rating
Billericay
71
Grays
69.8
Median Income
Billericay
£38,650
Grays
£35,318
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Grays is £372,903, which is 58% less than Billericay at £588,207. The most affordable entry point in Billericay is a flat at £238,151, while in Grays it is a flat at £210,246.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 50% pricier in Billericay (£806,645 vs £539,402).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Billericay prices grew faster — 32% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 84.5 offences per 1,000 people, Grays is the safer of the two – 1% lower than Billericay's 85.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Billericay 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 EnglandGrays has 90.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 83.3% in Billericay. Billericay has 10 schools in total, while Grays has 12.
Billericay School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 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 | Billericay | Grays |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 12 |
| Primary | 8 | 8 |
| Secondary | 2 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Grays offers faster average downloads at 457.1 Mbps, compared to 419.2 Mbps in Billericay. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.9% of premises in Billericay and 96.2% in Grays. Gigabit availability stands at 80.9% in Billericay and 87.8% in Grays.
Grays is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (457 vs 419 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Billericay are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71 (band C) versus 69.8 (band C) in Grays. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,108 in Billericay and £1,043 in Grays. 67% of homes in Billericay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.9% in Grays.
Billericay has more energy-efficient housing — 67% reach band C or above, vs 61.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,649.5 in Billericay and £35,318 in Grays. The median age is 43.2 in Billericay and 38.5 in Grays. Employment rates stand at 60.1% in Billericay and 63% in Grays. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Billericay versus 63.3% in Grays.
| Indicator | Billericay | Grays |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,068 | 44,340 |
| Median Age | 43.2 | 38.5 |
| Median Household Income | £38,649.5 | £35,318 |
| Employment Rate | 60.1% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 63.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30% | 26.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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