Colchester
Colchester is a district council in Essex, in the East of England. All 24 figures Groundsense publishes are available here. Figures fetched 3 October 2026.
Of the councils around Colchester, none has shorter GP lists: 2,434 patients per GP. Recorded crime, 82.2 per 1,000 residents, is the highest of them. Life satisfaction averages 7.8 out of 10, higher than 88% of UK councils. Full fibre reaches 62.6% of premises, the 2nd lowest of the 12 districts in Essex. 86.9% of residents were at the same address a year earlier, the lowest share in the county.
Furthest from the middle
- Life satisfaction, mean out of 10 7.8 Higher than 88% of the 347 councils in the UK it is published for. 3rd highest of the 10 districts in Essex. Joint 8th highest of the 43 councils in the East of England.
- Energy efficiency score of the typical home 71 Higher than 82% of the 318 councils in England and Wales it is published for. Joint 2nd highest of the 12 districts in Essex. Joint 4th highest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
- Premises with full fibre available 62.6% Lower than 85% of the 359 councils in the UK it is published for. 2nd lowest of the 12 districts in Essex. 7th lowest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
Each line runs from the council with the lowest figure to the one with the highest. The dot is Colchester and the tick is the council in the middle.
Cost of living
Lower than 84% of the 296 councils in England it is published for.
7th lowest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
MHCLG, Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026-27, Table 9 · 2026-27 · How this is measured
Housing
Higher than 57% of the 360 councils in the UK it is published for.
2nd lowest of the 12 districts in Essex.
Down 0.3% since June 2025
UK House Price Index · June 2026 · How this is measured
Higher than 59% of the 316 councils in England and Wales it is published for.
3rd lowest of the 12 districts in Essex.
Up 2% since August 2025
ONS Price Index of Private Rents · August 2026 · How this is measured
Higher than 54% of the 348 councils in England, Scotland and Wales it is published for.
2nd lowest of the 12 districts in Essex.
Joint 9th lowest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
UK House Price Index average price (June 2026) over ASHE median gross annual pay, full time workers (2025) · June 2026 prices, 2025 pay · How this is measured
Higher than 82% of the 318 councils in England and Wales it is published for.
Joint 2nd highest of the 12 districts in Essex.
Joint 4th highest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
ONS, Energy efficiency of housing, median score by local authority, from MHCLG certificates · to March 2025 · How this is measured
Transport
Lower than 50% of the 329 councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is published for.
Census 2021: ONS TS045 for England and Wales, NISRA for Northern Ireland · 2021 · How this is measured
Higher than 56% of the 350 councils in England, Scotland and Wales it is published for.
DfT NaPTAN active stations, read at every census area · October 2026 · How this is measured
Amenities
Higher than 56% of the 358 councils in the UK it is published for.
Food Standards Agency register of food businesses, read at every census area · October 2026 · How this is measured
Lower than 57% of the 318 councils in England and Wales it is published for.
NHS organisation register, dispensing contractors, read at every census area · October 2026 · How this is measured
Lower than 85% of the 359 councils in the UK it is published for.
2nd lowest of the 12 districts in Essex.
7th lowest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
Ofcom Connected Nations 2025, fixed broadband residential coverage by local authority · July 2025 · How this is measured
Education
Higher than 57% of the 296 councils in England it is published for.
Down 2 points since 2018/19
DfE, Key stage 2 attainment by pupil residency · 2025/26 · How this is measured
Higher than 71% of the 296 councils in England it is published for.
DfE, Key stage 4 performance, local authority district data by pupil residency · 2024/25 · How this is measured
Health
Higher than 74% of the 296 councils in England it is published for.
NHS England, General Practice Workforce, practice level, August 2026 · August 2026 · How this is measured
Lower than 68% of the 293 councils in England it is published for.
Published for Essex as a whole, so every district in it shows this figure.
Joint 7th highest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
CQC Syndication API, GP practices (inspection category P2) · October 2026 · How this is measured
Safety
Higher than 65% of the 305 councils in England and Wales it is published for.
3rd highest of the 12 districts in Essex.
Down 10.3% since 2022-23
Home Office recorded crime by community safety partnership, over ONS population estimates for June 2025 · 2025-26 · How this is measured
Higher than 57% of the 305 councils in England and Wales it is published for.
2nd highest of the 12 districts in Essex.
Home Office recorded crime by community safety partnership, over Census 2021 household counts · 2025-26 · How this is measured
Higher than 58% of the 350 councils in England, Scotland and Wales it is published for.
Published for Essex as a whole, so every district in it shows this figure.
DfT RAS0403, adjusted casualties by highway authority, 2023 to 2025, over ONS population estimates for June 2025 · 2023 to 2025 · How this is measured
Community
Lower than 85% of the 318 councils in England and Wales it is published for.
The lowest of the 12 districts in Essex.
4th lowest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
ONS Census 2021, TS019 Migrant indicator · 2021 · How this is measured
Lower than 60% of the 361 councils in the UK it is published for.
Up 4.5% since 2021
ONS UK Business Counts, SIC 56301 and 56302, over ONS population estimates for June 2025 · 2026 · How this is measured
Wellbeing
Higher than 88% of the 347 councils in the UK it is published for.
3rd highest of the 10 districts in Essex.
Joint 8th highest of the 43 councils in the East of England.
ONS, personal wellbeing estimates by local authority · 2022-23 · How this is measured
Lower than 51% of the 347 councils in the UK it is published for.
ONS, personal wellbeing estimates by local authority · 2022-23 · How this is measured
Higher than 55% of the 359 councils in the UK it is published for.
Published for Essex as a whole, so every district in it shows this figure.
Down 3.1 years since 2011 to 2013
ONS, Healthy life expectancy, UK · 2022 to 2024 · How this is measured
Environment
Higher than 80% of the 343 councils in England, Scotland and Wales it is published for.
8th highest of the 45 councils in the East of England.
ONS, Access to public parks and playing fields, from OS Open Greenspace · April 2020 · How this is measured
Higher than 59% of the 361 councils in the UK it is published for.
Down 33.8% since 2019
Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, background NO2 on the 1km grid, read at every census area · 2024 · How this is measured
Next door, side by side
Colchester shares a boundary with Babergh, Braintree, Maldon and Tendring. Lowest first.
- Average monthly rent, two bedrooms
- Eleven year olds at the expected standard in reading, writing and maths
- Nitrogen dioxide where people live, annual mean
What changed
- Average house price, change over a year, June 2025 to June 2026Down 0.3% since June 2025
- Two bedroom rent, change over a year, August 2025 to August 2026Up 2% since August 2025
- Recorded crime, change in the count, 2022-23 to 2025-26Down 10.3% since 2022-23
- Healthy life expectancy for women, change, between 2011 to 2013 and 2022 to 2024Down 3.1 years since 2011 to 2013
- Pubs, bars and licensed clubs, change in the count, 2021 to 2026Up 4.5% since 2021
- Eleven year olds at the expected standard, change, 2018/19 to 2025/26Down 2 points since 2018/19
- Nitrogen dioxide where people live, change, 2019 to 2024Down 33.8% since 2019
Thinking of moving to Colchester?
A plan sets it beside where you live now and up to four other places, weighted for your household.