Braintree vs Sudbury
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Sudbury offers lower property prices by roughly 4%. For families, Sudbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Braintree
£374,943
Sudbury
£362,160
Crime Rate
Braintree
53.6
Sudbury
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Braintree
83.3%
Sudbury
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Braintree
443.2
Sudbury
352.7
EPC Rating
Braintree
71.8
Sudbury
69.9
Median Income
Braintree
£36,071
Sudbury
£32,217
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Sudbury more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £362,160 versus £374,943 in Braintree. The most affordable entry point in Braintree is a flat at £166,888, while in Sudbury it is a flat at £180,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 14% pricier in Braintree (£291,143 vs £254,726).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Braintree prices grew faster — 33% vs -8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime rate data is not available for both Braintree and Sudbury at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandSchool quality favours Sudbury: 87.5% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 83.3% in Braintree.
Braintree School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sudbury School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Braintree | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 8 |
| Primary | 10 | 6 |
| Secondary | 3 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Braintree enjoy 443.2 Mbps on average, while Sudbury lags behind at 352.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.3% of premises in Braintree and 94.3% in Sudbury. Gigabit availability stands at 86.8% in Braintree and 65.6% in Sudbury.
Braintree is the faster of the two by 26% on average download speed (443 vs 353 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Braintree is band C (score 71.8), ahead of Sudbury's band C (score 69.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,238 in Braintree and £1,277 in Sudbury. 66.4% of homes in Braintree have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.4% in Sudbury.
Braintree has more energy-efficient housing — 66.4% reach band C or above, vs 60.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Braintree has a population of 43,179 while Sudbury has 23,922. Median household income is £36,071 in Braintree and £32,217.3 in Sudbury. The median age is 44.4 in Braintree and 45.7 in Sudbury. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Braintree and 58.8% in Sudbury.
| Indicator | Braintree | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,179 | 23,922 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 45.7 |
| Median Household Income | £36,071 | £32,217.3 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 58.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 66.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.2% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Braintree and Sudbury?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Braintree or Sudbury?
Is Braintree or Sudbury safer?
Which has better schools, Braintree or Sudbury?
Which has faster broadband, Braintree or Sudbury?
Keep exploring