Town comparison
Colchester vs Long Melford
Which is better to live in? 14.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Colchester offers lower property prices by roughly 5%.
Avg House Price
Colchester
£371,691
Long Melford
£392,132
Crime Rate
Colchester
80.5
Long Melford
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Colchester
97.3%
Long Melford
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Colchester
417.5
Long Melford
352.7
EPC Rating
Colchester
70
Long Melford
69.9
Median Income
Colchester
£30,648
Long Melford
£32,217
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Colchester is £371,691, which is 5% less than Long Melford at £392,132. The most affordable entry point in Colchester is a flat at £174,465, while in Long Melford it is a flat at £179,300.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 8% pricier in Colchester (£514,316 vs £477,965).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Colchester prices grew faster — 22% vs 18%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime rate data is not available for both Colchester and Long Melford at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandSchool quality data is not fully available for both Colchester and Long Melford. Colchester has 47 schools and Long Melford has 1 schools.
Colchester School Inspection Breakdown
97.3% of 47 schools (37 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Long Melford School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Colchester | Long Melford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 47 | 1 |
| Primary | 37 | 1 |
| Secondary | 10 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 97.3% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Colchester offers faster average downloads at 417.5 Mbps, compared to 352.7 Mbps in Long Melford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Colchester and 94.3% in Long Melford. Gigabit availability stands at 81% in Colchester and 65.6% in Long Melford.
Colchester is the faster of the two by 18% on average download speed (418 vs 353 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Colchester are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70 (band D) versus 69.9 (band C) in Long Melford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Colchester and £1,277 in Long Melford. 59.2% of homes in Colchester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.4% in Long Melford.
Long Melford has more energy-efficient housing — 60.4% reach band C or above, vs 59.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,217.3 in Long Melford and £30,648 in Colchester. The median age is 46 in Colchester and 45.7 in Long Melford. Employment rates stand at 52.8% in Colchester and 58.8% in Long Melford. Owner-occupancy is 68% in Colchester versus 66.3% in Long Melford.
| Indicator | Colchester | Long Melford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 130,396 | 3,895 |
| Median Age | 46 | 45.7 |
| Median Household Income | £30,648 | £32,217.3 |
| Employment Rate | 52.8% | 58.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68% | 66.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.1% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Colchester and Long Melford?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Colchester or Long Melford?
Is Colchester or Long Melford safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Colchester or Long Melford?
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