Brightlingsea vs Harwich
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.3 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Harwich wins on house prices with a 10% gap. Brightlingsea has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brightlingsea edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brightlingsea
£274,024
Harwich
£250,032
Crime Rate
Brightlingsea
78.9
Harwich
79.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brightlingsea
100.0%
Harwich
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Brightlingsea
361.6
Harwich
387
EPC Rating
Brightlingsea
69.7
Harwich
70
Median Income
Brightlingsea
£30,432
Harwich
£29,832
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Brightlingsea commands an average of £274,024, compared with £250,032 in Harwich – a difference of 10%. The most affordable entry point in Brightlingsea is a flat at £173,471, while in Harwich it is a flat at £115,300.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 50% pricier in Brightlingsea (£173,471 vs £115,300).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harwich prices grew faster — 47% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Brightlingsea experience less crime overall, with a rate of 78.9 per 1,000 versus 79.1 per 1,000 in Harwich. The most common crime category in Brightlingsea is violent-crime, while in Harwich 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 Brightlingsea, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 87.5% in Harwich. There are 2 schools in Brightlingsea and 8 in Harwich.
Brightlingsea School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harwich School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brightlingsea | Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 8 |
| Primary | 1 | 7 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 387.0 Mbps in Harwich and 361.6 Mbps in Brightlingsea. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in Brightlingsea and 96.8% in Harwich. Gigabit availability stands at 67.7% in Brightlingsea and 73.5% in Harwich.
Harwich is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (387 vs 362 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Harwich leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70 (D), while Brightlingsea averages 69.7 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,242 in Brightlingsea and £1,206 in Harwich. 58.5% of homes in Brightlingsea have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.4% in Harwich.
Brightlingsea has more energy-efficient housing — 58.5% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,432 in Brightlingsea and £29,832 in Harwich. The median age is 46.9 in Brightlingsea and 50.3 in Harwich. Owner-occupancy is 69% in Brightlingsea versus 71.5% in Harwich. Employment rates stand at 53.7% in Brightlingsea and 46.7% in Harwich.
| Indicator | Brightlingsea | Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,678 | 19,582 |
| Median Age | 46.9 | 50.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,432 | £29,832 |
| Employment Rate | 53.7% | 46.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 69% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.2% | 19.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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