Town comparison
Colchester vs Kirby Cross
Which is better to live in? 14.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Kirby Cross offers lower property prices by roughly 11%. Kirby Cross has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Colchester
£371,691
Kirby Cross
£333,699
Crime Rate
Colchester
80.5
Kirby Cross
79.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Colchester
97.3%
Kirby Cross
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Colchester
417.5
Kirby Cross
329
EPC Rating
Colchester
70
Kirby Cross
70
Median Income
Colchester
£30,648
Kirby Cross
£29,832
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Kirby Cross more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £333,699 versus £371,691 in Colchester. The most affordable entry point in Colchester is a flat at £174,465, while in Kirby Cross it is a flat at £101,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 72% pricier in Colchester (£174,465 vs £101,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Kirby Cross prices grew faster — 33% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Kirby Cross (79.2 per 1,000) compared to Colchester (80.5 per 1,000), a 2% difference. The most common crime category in Colchester 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 Colchester and Kirby Cross. Colchester has 47 schools and Kirby Cross has 1 schools.
Colchester School Inspection Breakdown
97.3% of 47 schools (37 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirby Cross School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Colchester | Kirby Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 47 | 1 |
| Primary | 37 | 1 |
| Secondary | 10 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 97.3% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Colchester enjoy 417.5 Mbps on average, while Kirby Cross lags behind at 329.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Colchester and 98.4% in Kirby Cross. Gigabit availability stands at 81% in Colchester and 59.3% in Kirby Cross.
Colchester is the faster of the two by 27% on average download speed (418 vs 329 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Colchester is band D (score 70), ahead of Kirby Cross's band D (score 70). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Colchester and £1,206 in Kirby Cross. 59.2% of homes in Colchester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.4% in Kirby Cross.
Colchester has more energy-efficient housing — 59.2% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Colchester has a population of 130,396 while Kirby Cross has 5,720. Median household income is £30,648 in Colchester and £29,832 in Kirby Cross. The median age is 46 in Colchester and 50.3 in Kirby Cross. Employment rates stand at 52.8% in Colchester and 46.7% in Kirby Cross.
| Indicator | Colchester | Kirby Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 130,396 | 5,720 |
| Median Age | 46 | 50.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,648 | £29,832 |
| Employment Rate | 52.8% | 46.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 68% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.1% | 19.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Colchester and Kirby Cross?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Colchester or Kirby Cross?
Is Colchester or Kirby Cross safer?
Which has better schools, Colchester or Kirby Cross?
Which has faster broadband, Colchester or Kirby Cross?
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