Braintree vs Chelmsford

At £374,943, Braintree undercuts Chelmsford (£467,228) by around 20% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Braintree is a flat at £166,888, while in Chelmsford it is a flat at £224,709.

Residents of Braintree experience less crime overall, with a rate of 53.6 per 1,000 versus 69.2 per 1,000 in Chelmsford. The most common crime category in Braintree is violent-crime, while in Chelmsford it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

→Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

Of the 13 schools in Braintree, 83.3% are in the top two inspection bands. In Chelmsford, which has 34 schools, the figure is 93.3%.

Broadband & Connectivity

Broadband in Braintree averages 443.2 Mbps – ahead of Chelmsford's 417.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.3% of premises in Braintree and 96.2% in Chelmsford. Gigabit availability stands at 86.8% in Braintree and 79.8% in Chelmsford.

→Braintree is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (443 vs 417 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Chelmsford leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 72.2 (C), while Braintree averages 71.8 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,238 in Braintree and £1,205 in Chelmsford. 66.4% of homes in Braintree have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.2% in Chelmsford.

→Chelmsford has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 66.4% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £36,071 in Braintree and £34,617 in Chelmsford. The median age is 44.4 in Braintree and 44 in Chelmsford. Owner-occupancy is 69.2% in Braintree versus 70.3% in Chelmsford. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Braintree and 61.5% in Chelmsford.

Location