Colchester vs Lawford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Colchester wins on house prices with a 5% gap. Lawford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lawford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Colchester
£371,691
Lawford
£393,024
Crime Rate
Colchester
80.5
Lawford
79.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Colchester
97.3%
Lawford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Colchester
417.5
Lawford
424.1
EPC Rating
Colchester
70
Lawford
69.6
Median Income
Colchester
£30,648
Lawford
£29,916
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Lawford commands an average of £393,024, compared with £371,691 in Colchester – a difference of 5%. The most affordable entry point in Colchester is a flat at £174,465, while in Lawford it is a flat at £183,048.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 9% pricier in Lawford (£305,048 vs £278,764).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Lawford prices grew faster — 41% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Lawford experience less crime overall, with a rate of 79.1 per 1,000 versus 80.5 per 1,000 in Colchester. The most common crime category in Colchester 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 EnglandFamilies may prefer Lawford, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 97.3% in Colchester. There are 47 schools in Colchester and 3 in Lawford.
Colchester School Inspection Breakdown
97.3% of 47 schools (37 primary, 10 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 | Colchester | Lawford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 47 | 3 |
| Primary | 37 | 2 |
| Secondary | 10 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 97.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 424.1 Mbps in Lawford and 417.5 Mbps in Colchester. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Colchester and 97.2% in Lawford. Gigabit availability stands at 81% in Colchester and 82.3% in Lawford.
Lawford is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (424 vs 418 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Colchester, scoring 70 on average (band D) compared to 69.6 (band D) in Lawford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Colchester and £1,288 in Lawford. 59.2% of homes in Colchester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.8% in Lawford.
Colchester has more energy-efficient housing — 59.2% reach band C or above, vs 56.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,648 in Colchester and £29,916 in Lawford. The median age is 46 in Colchester and 49.5 in Lawford. Employment rates stand at 52.8% in Colchester and 51.1% in Lawford. Owner-occupancy is 68% in Colchester versus 71.2% in Lawford. Colchester has a population of 130,396 and Lawford has 4,488.
| Indicator | Colchester | Lawford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 130,396 | 4,488 |
| Median Age | 46 | 49.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,648 | £29,916 |
| Employment Rate | 52.8% | 51.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 68% | 71.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.1% | 24.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Colchester and Lawford?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Colchester or Lawford?
Is Colchester or Lawford safer?
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