Braintree vs Great Dunmow
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Braintree offers lower property prices by roughly 6%. Braintree has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Great Dunmow edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Braintree
£374,943
Great Dunmow
£397,500
Crime Rate
Braintree
53.6
Great Dunmow
68.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Braintree
83.3%
Great Dunmow
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Braintree
443.2
Great Dunmow
409.4
EPC Rating
Braintree
71.8
Great Dunmow
71.4
Median Income
Braintree
£36,071
Great Dunmow
£35,055
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Braintree is £374,943, which is 6% less than Great Dunmow at £397,500. The most affordable entry point in Braintree is a flat at £166,888, while in Great Dunmow it is a terraced at £397,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 27% pricier in Great Dunmow (£397,500 vs £291,143).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Braintree prices grew faster — 33% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 53.6 offences per 1,000 people, Braintree is the safer of the two – 28% lower than Great Dunmow's 68.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Braintree is violent-crime, while in Great Dunmow 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 EnglandGreat Dunmow has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 83.3% in Braintree. Braintree has 13 schools in total, while Great Dunmow has 3.
Braintree School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Great Dunmow School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Braintree | Great Dunmow |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 3 |
| Primary | 10 | 2 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Braintree offers faster average downloads at 443.2 Mbps, compared to 409.4 Mbps in Great Dunmow. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.3% of premises in Braintree and 95.4% in Great Dunmow. Gigabit availability stands at 86.8% in Braintree and 79% in Great Dunmow.
Braintree is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (443 vs 409 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Braintree are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Great Dunmow. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,238 in Braintree and £1,215 in Great Dunmow. 66.4% of homes in Braintree have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66% in Great Dunmow.
Braintree has more energy-efficient housing — 66.4% reach band C or above, vs 66% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,071 in Braintree and £35,055.3 in Great Dunmow. The median age is 44.4 in Braintree and 44.1 in Great Dunmow. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Braintree and 61.1% in Great Dunmow. Owner-occupancy is 69.2% in Braintree versus 69.5% in Great Dunmow.
| Indicator | Braintree | Great Dunmow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,179 | 9,846 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 44.1 |
| Median Household Income | £36,071 | £35,055.3 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 61.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 69.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.2% | 32.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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