Brightlingsea vs Lawford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Brightlingsea is about 30% cheaper on average. Brightlingsea has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brightlingsea edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brightlingsea
£274,024
Lawford
£393,024
Crime Rate
Brightlingsea
78.9
Lawford
79.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brightlingsea
100.0%
Lawford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brightlingsea
361.6
Lawford
424.1
EPC Rating
Brightlingsea
69.7
Lawford
69.6
Median Income
Brightlingsea
£30,432
Lawford
£29,916
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Brightlingsea more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £274,024 versus £393,024 in Lawford. The most affordable entry point in Brightlingsea is a flat at £173,471, while in Lawford it is a flat at £183,048.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 26% pricier in Lawford (£305,048 vs £226,204).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Lawford prices grew faster — 41% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Brightlingsea (78.9 per 1,000) compared to Lawford (79.1 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Brightlingsea is violent-crime, while in Lawford 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 favours Brightlingsea: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Lawford.
Brightlingsea School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lawford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brightlingsea | Lawford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Lawford enjoy 424.1 Mbps on average, while Brightlingsea lags behind at 361.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in Brightlingsea and 97.2% in Lawford. Gigabit availability stands at 67.7% in Brightlingsea and 82.3% in Lawford.
Lawford is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (424 vs 362 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Brightlingsea is band C (score 69.7), ahead of Lawford's band D (score 69.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,242 in Brightlingsea and £1,288 in Lawford. 58.5% of homes in Brightlingsea have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.8% in Lawford.
Brightlingsea has more energy-efficient housing — 58.5% reach band C or above, vs 56.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Brightlingsea has a population of 8,678 while Lawford has 4,488. Median household income is £30,432 in Brightlingsea and £29,916 in Lawford. The median age is 46.9 in Brightlingsea and 49.5 in Lawford. Employment rates stand at 53.7% in Brightlingsea and 51.1% in Lawford.
| Indicator | Brightlingsea | Lawford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,678 | 4,488 |
| Median Age | 46.9 | 49.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,432 | £29,916 |
| Employment Rate | 53.7% | 51.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 69% | 71.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.2% | 24.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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