Brentwood vs Waltham Abbey
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Waltham Abbey is about 45% cheaper on average. Brentwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brentwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brentwood
£611,158
Waltham Abbey
£422,201
Crime Rate
Brentwood
64.0
Waltham Abbey
64.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brentwood
100.0%
Waltham Abbey
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brentwood
371.6
Waltham Abbey
432.9
EPC Rating
Brentwood
69.5
Waltham Abbey
70.2
Median Income
Brentwood
£41,192
Waltham Abbey
£35,195
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Waltham Abbey is £422,201, which is 45% less than Brentwood at £611,158. The most affordable entry point in Brentwood is a flat at £311,789, while in Waltham Abbey it is a flat at £234,685.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 47% pricier in Brentwood (£1,011,300 vs £688,282).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brentwood prices grew faster — 24% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 64 offences per 1,000 people, Brentwood is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Waltham Abbey's 64.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brentwood is violent-crime, while in Waltham Abbey 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 EnglandBrentwood has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Waltham Abbey. Brentwood has 18 schools in total, while Waltham Abbey has 5.
Brentwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 18 schools (13 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Waltham Abbey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brentwood | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 18 | 5 |
| Primary | 13 | 4 |
| Secondary | 5 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Waltham Abbey offers faster average downloads at 432.9 Mbps, compared to 371.6 Mbps in Brentwood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.6% of premises in Brentwood and 97.6% in Waltham Abbey. Gigabit availability stands at 69.9% in Brentwood and 81.9% in Waltham Abbey.
Waltham Abbey is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (433 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Waltham Abbey are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.2 (band C) versus 69.5 (band C) in Brentwood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,151 in Brentwood and £1,139 in Waltham Abbey. 59.4% of homes in Brentwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.5% in Waltham Abbey.
Waltham Abbey has more energy-efficient housing — 63.5% reach band C or above, vs 59.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £41,192 in Brentwood and £35,194.7 in Waltham Abbey. The median age is 43.6 in Brentwood and 41.9 in Waltham Abbey. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Brentwood and 58.9% in Waltham Abbey. Owner-occupancy is 70.7% in Brentwood versus 63.5% in Waltham Abbey.
| Indicator | Brentwood | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,339 | 18,645 |
| Median Age | 43.6 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £41,192 | £35,194.7 |
| Employment Rate | 59.9% | 58.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.7% | 63.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 32% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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