Town comparison
Colchester vs Sudbury
Which is better to live in? 12.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Sudbury is about 3% cheaper on average. For families, Colchester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Colchester
£371,691
Sudbury
£362,160
Crime Rate
Colchester
80.5
Sudbury
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Colchester
97.3%
Sudbury
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Colchester
417.5
Sudbury
352.7
EPC Rating
Colchester
70
Sudbury
69.9
Median Income
Colchester
£30,648
Sudbury
£32,217
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Sudbury is £362,160, which is 3% less than Colchester at £371,691. The most affordable entry point in Colchester is a flat at £174,465, while in Sudbury it is a flat at £180,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 9% pricier in Colchester (£278,764 vs £254,726).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Colchester prices grew faster — 22% vs -8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime rate data is not available for both Colchester and Sudbury at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandColchester has 97.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 87.5% in Sudbury. Colchester has 47 schools in total, while Sudbury has 8.
Colchester School Inspection Breakdown
97.3% of 47 schools (37 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sudbury School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Colchester | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 47 | 8 |
| Primary | 37 | 6 |
| Secondary | 10 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 97.3% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Colchester offers faster average downloads at 417.5 Mbps, compared to 352.7 Mbps in Sudbury. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Colchester and 94.3% in Sudbury. Gigabit availability stands at 81% in Colchester and 65.6% in Sudbury.
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 Sudbury. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Colchester and £1,277 in Sudbury. 59.2% of homes in Colchester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.4% in Sudbury.
Sudbury 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 Sudbury and £30,648 in Colchester. The median age is 46 in Colchester and 45.7 in Sudbury. Employment rates stand at 52.8% in Colchester and 58.8% in Sudbury. Owner-occupancy is 68% in Colchester versus 66.3% in Sudbury.
| Indicator | Colchester | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 130,396 | 23,922 |
| 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 Sudbury?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Colchester or Sudbury?
Is Colchester or Sudbury safer?
Which has better schools, Colchester or Sudbury?
Which has faster broadband, Colchester or Sudbury?
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