Great Dunmow vs Saffron Walden
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Great Dunmow wins on house prices with a 29% gap. Saffron Walden has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Great Dunmow edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Great Dunmow
£397,500
Saffron Walden
£561,386
Crime Rate
Great Dunmow
68.7
Saffron Walden
51.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Great Dunmow
100.0%
Saffron Walden
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Great Dunmow
409.4
Saffron Walden
386.2
EPC Rating
Great Dunmow
71.4
Saffron Walden
74.6
Median Income
Great Dunmow
£35,055
Saffron Walden
£36,578
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Saffron Walden commands an average of £561,386, compared with £397,500 in Great Dunmow – a difference of 29%. The most affordable entry point in Great Dunmow is a terraced at £397,500, while in Saffron Walden it is a flat at £243,146.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 0% pricier in Great Dunmow (£397,500 vs £396,762).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Saffron Walden prices grew faster — 29% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Saffron Walden experience less crime overall, with a rate of 51.8 per 1,000 versus 68.7 per 1,000 in Great Dunmow. The most common crime category in Great Dunmow is violent-crime, while in Saffron Walden 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 Great Dunmow, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Saffron Walden. There are 3 schools in Great Dunmow and 7 in Saffron Walden.
Great Dunmow School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Saffron Walden School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Great Dunmow | Saffron Walden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 7 |
| Primary | 2 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 409.4 Mbps in Great Dunmow and 386.2 Mbps in Saffron Walden. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Great Dunmow and 93.9% in Saffron Walden. Gigabit availability stands at 79% in Great Dunmow and 73.7% in Saffron Walden.
Great Dunmow is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (409 vs 386 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Saffron Walden, scoring 74.6 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Great Dunmow. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,215 in Great Dunmow and £1,176 in Saffron Walden. 66% of homes in Great Dunmow have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 73.4% in Saffron Walden.
Saffron Walden has more energy-efficient housing — 73.4% reach band C or above, vs 66% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,577.5 in Saffron Walden and £35,055.3 in Great Dunmow. The median age is 44.1 in Great Dunmow and 44.2 in Saffron Walden. Employment rates stand at 61.1% in Great Dunmow and 62.7% in Saffron Walden. Owner-occupancy is 69.5% in Great Dunmow versus 69.8% in Saffron Walden. Great Dunmow has a population of 9,846 and Saffron Walden has 16,609.
| Indicator | Great Dunmow | Saffron Walden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,846 | 16,609 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £35,055.3 | £36,577.5 |
| Employment Rate | 61.1% | 62.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.5% | 69.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.1% | 42.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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