Town comparison
Long Melford vs Sible Hedingham
Which is better to live in? 8.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Long Melford wins on house prices with a 1% gap.
Avg House Price
Long Melford
£392,132
Sible Hedingham
£395,950
Crime Rate
Long Melford
N/A
Sible Hedingham
53.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Long Melford
N/A
Sible Hedingham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Long Melford
352.7
Sible Hedingham
393.4
EPC Rating
Long Melford
69.9
Sible Hedingham
69.9
Median Income
Long Melford
£32,217
Sible Hedingham
£35,932
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Sible Hedingham commands an average of £395,950, compared with £392,132 in Long Melford – a difference of 1%. The most affordable entry point in Long Melford is a flat at £179,300, while in Sible Hedingham it is a flat at £134,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 33% pricier in Long Melford (£179,300 vs £134,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Sible Hedingham prices grew faster — 27% vs 18%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime rate data is not available for both Long Melford and Sible Hedingham 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 Long Melford and Sible Hedingham. Long Melford has 1 schools and Sible Hedingham has 2 schools.
Long Melford School Inspection Breakdown
Sible Hedingham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Long Melford | Sible Hedingham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 393.4 Mbps in Sible Hedingham and 352.7 Mbps in Long Melford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.3% of premises in Long Melford and 95.6% in Sible Hedingham. Gigabit availability stands at 65.6% in Long Melford and 75.1% in Sible Hedingham.
Sible Hedingham is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (393 vs 353 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Long Melford, scoring 69.9 on average (band C) compared to 69.9 (band C) in Sible Hedingham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,277 in Long Melford and £1,235 in Sible Hedingham. 60.4% of homes in Long Melford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.6% in Sible Hedingham.
Sible Hedingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.6% reach band C or above, vs 60.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,932 in Sible Hedingham and £32,217.3 in Long Melford. The median age is 45.7 in Long Melford and 44.2 in Sible Hedingham. Employment rates stand at 58.8% in Long Melford and 60.3% in Sible Hedingham. Owner-occupancy is 66.3% in Long Melford versus 67.8% in Sible Hedingham. Long Melford has a population of 3,895 and Sible Hedingham has 4,261.
| Indicator | Long Melford | Sible Hedingham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,895 | 4,261 |
| Median Age | 45.7 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £32,217.3 | £35,932 |
| Employment Rate | 58.8% | 60.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.3% | 67.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 25.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Long Melford and Sible Hedingham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Long Melford or Sible Hedingham?
Is Long Melford or Sible Hedingham safer?
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