Braintree vs Earls Colne
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.9 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Braintree wins on house prices with a 6% gap. Braintree has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Earls Colne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Braintree
£374,943
Earls Colne
£399,189
Crime Rate
Braintree
53.6
Earls Colne
53.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Braintree
83.3%
Earls Colne
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Braintree
443.2
Earls Colne
417.3
EPC Rating
Braintree
71.8
Earls Colne
69.7
Median Income
Braintree
£36,071
Earls Colne
£32,465
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Earls Colne commands an average of £399,189, compared with £374,943 in Braintree – a difference of 6%. The most affordable entry point in Braintree is a flat at £166,888, while in Earls Colne it is a flat at £175,250.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 11% pricier in Braintree (£339,261 vs £306,803).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Braintree prices grew faster — 33% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Braintree experience less crime overall, with a rate of 53.6 per 1,000 versus 53.9 per 1,000 in Earls Colne. The most common crime category in Braintree is violent-crime, while in Earls Colne 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 EnglandFamilies may prefer Earls Colne, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Braintree. There are 13 schools in Braintree and 1 in Earls Colne.
Braintree School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Earls Colne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Braintree | Earls Colne |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 1 |
| Primary | 10 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 443.2 Mbps in Braintree and 417.3 Mbps in Earls Colne. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.3% of premises in Braintree and 89.8% in Earls Colne. Gigabit availability stands at 86.8% in Braintree and 81.8% in Earls Colne.
Braintree is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (443 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Braintree, scoring 71.8 on average (band C) compared to 69.7 (band C) in Earls Colne. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,238 in Braintree and £1,252 in Earls Colne. 66.4% of homes in Braintree have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.2% in Earls Colne.
Braintree has more energy-efficient housing — 66.4% reach band C or above, vs 60.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,071 in Braintree and £32,465.3 in Earls Colne. The median age is 44.4 in Braintree and 44.9 in Earls Colne. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Braintree and 58.2% in Earls Colne. Owner-occupancy is 69.2% in Braintree versus 67.8% in Earls Colne. Braintree has a population of 43,179 and Earls Colne has 3,360.
| Indicator | Braintree | Earls Colne |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,179 | 3,360 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 44.9 |
| Median Household Income | £36,071 | £32,465.3 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 58.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 67.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.2% | 29.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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