Braintree vs Sible Hedingham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Braintree is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 5% lower. Braintree has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Sible Hedingham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Braintree
£374,943
Sible Hedingham
£395,950
Crime Rate
Braintree
53.6
Sible Hedingham
53.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Braintree
83.3%
Sible Hedingham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Braintree
443.2
Sible Hedingham
393.4
EPC Rating
Braintree
71.8
Sible Hedingham
69.9
Median Income
Braintree
£36,071
Sible Hedingham
£35,932
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Sible Hedingham commands an average of £395,950, compared with £374,943 in Braintree – a difference of 5%. The most affordable entry point in Braintree is a flat at £166,888, while in Sible Hedingham it is a flat at £134,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 24% pricier in Braintree (£166,888 vs £134,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Braintree prices grew faster — 33% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandBraintree has a crime rate of 53.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Sible Hedingham at 53.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Braintree is violent-crime, while in Sible Hedingham 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 Sible Hedingham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Braintree. There are 13 schools in Braintree and 2 in Sible Hedingham.
Braintree School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sible Hedingham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Braintree | Sible Hedingham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 2 |
| Primary | 10 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 443.2 Mbps in Braintree and 393.4 Mbps in Sible Hedingham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.3% of premises in Braintree and 95.6% in Sible Hedingham. Gigabit availability stands at 86.8% in Braintree and 75.1% in Sible Hedingham.
Braintree is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (443 vs 393 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Braintree, scoring 71.8 on average (band C) compared to 69.9 (band C) in Sible Hedingham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,238 in Braintree and £1,235 in Sible Hedingham. 66.4% of homes in Braintree have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.6% in Sible Hedingham.
Braintree has more energy-efficient housing — 66.4% reach band C or above, vs 61.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,071 in Braintree and £35,932 in Sible Hedingham. The median age is 44.4 in Braintree and 44.2 in Sible Hedingham. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Braintree and 60.3% in Sible Hedingham. Owner-occupancy is 69.2% in Braintree versus 67.8% in Sible Hedingham. Braintree has a population of 43,179 and Sible Hedingham has 4,261.
| Indicator | Braintree | Sible Hedingham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,179 | 4,261 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £36,071 | £35,932 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 60.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 67.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.2% | 25.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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