Town comparison
Brightlingsea vs Kirby Cross
Which is better to live in? 9.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Brightlingsea is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Brightlingsea has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Brightlingsea
£274,024
Kirby Cross
£333,699
Crime Rate
Brightlingsea
78.9
Kirby Cross
79.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brightlingsea
100.0%
Kirby Cross
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Brightlingsea
361.6
Kirby Cross
329
EPC Rating
Brightlingsea
69.7
Kirby Cross
70
Median Income
Brightlingsea
£30,432
Kirby Cross
£29,832
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £274,024, Brightlingsea undercuts Kirby Cross (£333,699) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Brightlingsea is a flat at £173,471, while in Kirby Cross it is a flat at £101,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 71% pricier in Brightlingsea (£173,471 vs £101,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Kirby Cross prices grew faster — 33% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandBrightlingsea has a crime rate of 78.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Kirby Cross at 79.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brightlingsea is violent-crime, while in Kirby Cross 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 EnglandSchool quality data is not fully available for both Brightlingsea and Kirby Cross. Brightlingsea has 2 schools and Kirby Cross has 1 schools.
Brightlingsea School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirby Cross School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Brightlingsea | Kirby Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 1 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Brightlingsea averages 361.6 Mbps – ahead of Kirby Cross's 329.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in Brightlingsea and 98.4% in Kirby Cross. Gigabit availability stands at 67.7% in Brightlingsea and 59.3% in Kirby Cross.
Brightlingsea is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (362 vs 329 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Kirby Cross, scoring 70 on average (band D) compared to 69.7 (band C) in Brightlingsea. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,242 in Brightlingsea and £1,206 in Kirby Cross. 58.5% of homes in Brightlingsea have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.4% in Kirby Cross.
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 Kirby Cross. The median age is 46.9 in Brightlingsea and 50.3 in Kirby Cross. Employment rates stand at 53.7% in Brightlingsea and 46.7% in Kirby Cross. Owner-occupancy is 69% in Brightlingsea versus 71.5% in Kirby Cross. Brightlingsea has a population of 8,678 and Kirby Cross has 5,720.
| Indicator | Brightlingsea | Kirby Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,678 | 5,720 |
| 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
How far apart are Brightlingsea and Kirby Cross?
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Is Brightlingsea or Kirby Cross safer?
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