England · County

Find your town in Essex

Essex has 81 towns of 2,500 or more and 169 villages and smaller places. Towns are graded against towns across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on cost of living, safety, schools, health and more.

81graded towns

26grade A− or better

169villages and smaller places

Southend-on-Sealargest · 182,295

How Essex compares: its report card →

Bunting over the Market Place at Saffron Walden

#1 in EssexSaffron WaldenA⁺

#2 in EssexStansted MountfitchetA⁺

The Old Manse & White House, High Street, Newport (Essex)

#3 in EssexNewportA⁺

#4 in EssexWest BergholtA⁺

Essex at a glance

What Essex is like

The typical Essex town grades highest on walkability and schools against towns across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and lowest on cost of living. Choose a subject to find the towns that do best on it.

The typical town, subject by subjectThe median Essex town against UK towns · the line marks the typical UK town

How Essex’s towns grade overall81 graded towns

A26B22C25D8

26 of 81 (32%) grade A− or better, against 25% of UK towns.

Every town ranked by scoreThe full Essex list, with what drives each grade Compare two townsSide by side, subject by subject

The finder

Find a town that’s…

81 towns · ordered by Essex rank

A⁺

Saffron Walden

Town · 16,609 people · #15 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺SchoolsAHealthLowestCHazard risk

A⁺

Stansted Mountfitchet

Town · 8,629 people · #30 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthAJobs & incomeLowestCHazard risk

A⁺

Newport

Town · 2,945 people · #43 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺HealthAJobs & incomeLowestC⁺Hazard risk

A⁺

West Bergholt

Town · 3,175 people · #53 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthAJobs & incomeLowestB⁻Cost of living

A⁺

Great Totham

Town · 2,773 people · #54 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺SafetyAHealthLowestC⁻Walkability

Hockley and Hawkwell

Town · 15,430 people · #113 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeAHealthLowestCCost of living

South Woodham Ferrers

Town · 16,029 people · #154 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeA⁻HealthLowestB⁻Schools

Danbury

Town · 6,196 people · #171 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsAHealthLowestCCost of living

Elsenham

Town · 3,414 people · #185 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthAJobs & incomeLowestC⁺Walkability

Billericay

Large town · 34,068 people · #186 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeAHealthLowestDCost of living

Great Notley

Town · 7,659 people · #196 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeAHealthLowestCCost of living

Ingatestone

Town · 5,411 people · #228 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeAWalkabilityLowestCCost of living

Ashingdon

Town · 6,490 people · #233 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASafetyAJobs & incomeLowestC⁺Cost of living

Writtle

Town · 4,703 people · #241 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsA⁻WalkabilityLowestC⁺Cost of living

Great Leighs

Town · 2,968 people · #280 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsA⁻HealthLowestC⁺Cost of living

Wivenhoe

Town · 7,354 people · #285 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthAJobs & incomeLowestC⁻Schools

A⁻

Boreham

Town · 3,561 people · #332 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsAHazard riskLowestC⁺Walkability

A⁻

Great Dunmow

Town · 10,395 people · #338 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻HealthB⁺Jobs & incomeLowestC⁺Hazard risk

A⁻

Takeley and Little Canfield

Town · 5,553 people · #339 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeASchoolsLowestC⁻Safety

A⁻

Brentwood

Large town · 55,339 people · #348 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityASchoolsLowestCSafety

A⁻

Theydon Bois

Town · 3,540 people · #404 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeAWalkabilityLowestDCost of living

A⁻

Galleywood

Town · 6,410 people · #410 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskB⁺SchoolsLowestC⁺Safety

A⁻

Doddinghurst

Town · 4,067 people · #420 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASafetyAJobs & incomeLowestCCost of living

A⁻

Tollesbury

Town · 2,811 people · #422 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASafetyA⁻HealthLowestDHazard risk

A⁻

Kelvedon and Feering

Town · 4,771 people · #464 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺SchoolsA⁻Jobs & incomeLowestDHazard risk

A⁻

Broomfield

Town · 3,491 people · #468 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityASchoolsLowestD⁻Safety

B⁺

Tiptree

Town · 9,302 people · #546 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsB⁺HealthLowestB⁻Safety

B⁺

Chelmsford

City · 110,612 people · #562 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityASchoolsLowestDSafety

B⁺

Little Dunmow

Town · 2,644 people · #565 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthAHazard riskLowestC⁻Schools

B⁺

Rayleigh

Large town · 32,383 people · #586 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeA⁻WalkabilityLowestCCost of living

B⁺

Buckhurst Hill

Town · 11,749 people · #598 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityAJobs & incomeLowestDCost of living

B⁺

Thaxted

Town · 3,111 people · #616 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthB⁺Cost of livingLowestC⁻Hazard risk

B⁺

Epping

Town · 10,693 people · #699 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityASchoolsLowestDCost of living

B⁺

Lawford

Town · 4,488 people · #720 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsB⁺Jobs & incomeLowestD⁻Cost of living

North Weald Bassett

Town · 4,323 people · #774 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsB⁺HealthLowestC⁻Cost of living

Chigwell

Town · 12,251 people · #776 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityA⁻Jobs & incomeLowestDCost of living

Colchester

City · 130,259 people · #832 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityA⁻Cost of livingLowestDSafety

Hullbridge

Town · 5,709 people · #850 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺SchoolsBHealthLowestCCost of living

West Mersea

Town · 7,071 people · #873 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺HealthB⁺SafetyLowestCSchools

Loughton

Large town · 33,338 people · #882 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityB⁺SchoolsLowestC⁻Cost of living

Thundersley and South Benfleet

Large town · 49,886 people · #884 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeB⁺WalkabilityLowestDCost of living

Coggeshall

Town · 3,767 people · #889 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityB⁺HealthLowestDHazard risk

Chafford Hundred and West Thurrock

Large town · 23,589 people · #899 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityA⁻SchoolsLowestDSafety

Wickford

Large town · 27,533 people · #930 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Jobs & incomeB⁺WalkabilityLowestC⁻Cost of living

Burnham-on-Crouch

Town · 7,806 people · #949 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestC⁻Hazard risk

B⁻

Lower Nazeing

Town · 3,631 people · #1,006 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Jobs & incomeB⁺HealthLowestD⁻Hazard risk

B⁻

Sible Hedingham

Town · 4,261 people · #1,116 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺HealthBCost of livingLowestC⁻Walkability

B⁻

Purfleet-on-Thames

Town · 5,881 people · #1,148 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityB⁺SchoolsLowestDSafety

C⁺

Berechurch

Town · 7,702 people · #1,172 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskACost of livingLowestDSafety

C⁺

Chipping Ongar

Town · 3,922 people · #1,232 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Hazard riskB⁺HealthLowestC⁻Cost of living

C⁺

Runwell

Town · 8,086 people · #1,238 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBJobs & incomeLowestC⁻Safety

C⁺

Braintree

Large town · 43,179 people · #1,277 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestC⁻Safety

C⁺

Earls Colne

Town · 3,360 people · #1,282 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBWalkabilityBCost of livingLowestC⁻Schools

C⁺

Stanford-le-Hope

Large town · 29,527 people · #1,285 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityB⁻Jobs & incomeLowestCCost of living

C⁺

Halstead

Town · 13,902 people · #1,288 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBCost of livingBWalkabilityLowestC⁻Hazard risk

C⁺

South Ockendon

Large town · 22,441 people · #1,319 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityAHazard riskLowestDHealth

C⁺

Mayland

Town · 3,740 people · #1,333 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Jobs & incomeBSafetyLowestD⁻Schools

C⁺

Maldon

Large town · 23,389 people · #1,336 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestDHazard risk

C⁺

Aveley

Town · 9,364 people · #1,346 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsA⁻WalkabilityLowestC⁻Safety

C⁺

Hatfield Peverel

Town · 3,622 people · #1,355 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Jobs & incomeBWalkabilityLowestC⁻Cost of living

C⁺

Grays

Large town · 44,340 people · #1,370 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityAHazard riskLowestC⁻Safety

Southend-on-Sea

City · 182,295 people · #1,430 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityA⁻SchoolsLowestDSafety

Witham

Large town · 27,395 people · #1,484 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestC⁻Safety

Canvey Island

Large town · 38,004 people · #1,510 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBSchoolsLowestC⁻Health

Kirby Cross

Town · 6,036 people · #1,568 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻SafetyLowestD⁻Cost of living

C⁻

Rochford

Town · 12,617 people · #1,622 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityC⁺SchoolsLowestDSafety

C⁻

Southminster

Town · 4,548 people · #1,628 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBWalkabilityLowestD⁻Schools

C⁻

Tilbury

Town · 14,187 people · #1,639 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityB⁺SchoolsLowestD⁻Safety

C⁻

Brightlingsea

Town · 8,678 people · #1,642 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBWalkabilityB⁻SchoolsLowestDCost of living

C⁻

Great Wakering

Town · 6,774 people · #1,673 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁻Hazard riskB⁻WalkabilityLowestDSchools

C⁻

Chadwell St Mary

Town · 10,680 people · #1,680 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻WalkabilityLowestDSafety

C⁻

East Tilbury

Town · 5,751 people · #1,731 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityB⁻Jobs & incomeLowestC⁻Safety

C⁻

Silver End

Town · 3,913 people · #1,795 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁻Cost of livingCJobs & incomeLowestCWalkability

Frinton-on-Sea

Town · 4,865 people · #1,838 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityBHazard riskLowestD⁻Cost of living

Harlow

Large town · 93,570 people · #1,839 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityBHazard riskLowestDSafety

Waltham Abbey

Town · 18,645 people · #1,891 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityC⁺Jobs & incomeLowestDSafety

Basildon

City · 115,935 people · #1,931 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityBHazard riskLowestD⁻Safety

D⁻

Walton-on-the-Naze

Town · 6,980 people · #2,134 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityC⁻HealthLowestD⁻Jobs & income

D⁻

Harwich

Large town · 20,219 people · #2,136 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityC⁻HealthLowestDJobs & income

D⁻

Clacton-on-Sea

Large town · 53,190 people · #2,137 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityB⁻Hazard riskLowestD⁻Schools

D⁻

Jaywick

Town · 5,080 people · #2,138 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBWalkabilityC⁺Cost of livingLowestD⁻Safety

Go deeper

Essex lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Essex rankings →

Best places to live81 towns · #1 Saffron Walden Best small towns48 towns · #1 Stansted Mountfitchet Most affordable towns81 towns · #1 Berechurch Safest towns81 towns · #1 Great Totham Towns with the best schools81 towns · #1 Kelvedon and Feering Healthiest towns81 towns · #1 Newport Best towns for jobs & income81 towns · #1 Theydon Bois Most walkable towns81 towns · #1 Broomfield Towns with the lowest flood risk81 towns · #1 Berechurch and 9 more Best towns for the outdoors81 towns · #1 Lawford Most historic towns81 towns · #1 Coggeshall Towns with the most civic life81 towns · #1 Thaxted Towns with the highest household incomes81 towns · #1 NewportDescribed, no letters Towns with the lowest council tax81 towns · #1 JaywickDescribed, no letters Towns with the mildest winters81 towns · #1 Canvey IslandDescribed, no letters Towns with the warmest summers81 towns · #1 Buckhurst HillDescribed, no letters Towns with the coolest summers81 towns · #1 ElsenhamDescribed, no letters Towns with the fewest frosts81 towns · #1 JaywickDescribed, no letters Driest towns81 towns · #1 JaywickDescribed, no letters Wettest towns81 towns · #1 North Weald BassettDescribed, no letters

Villages and small towns

169 smaller places in Essex

Places of 1,000 to 2,500 people have subject grades on their pages, but no overall grade or rank. The search at the top finds these too.

Kelvedon Hatch2,493 Rowhedge2,492 Alresford2,462 Little Clacton2,458 Shelley2,405 Bicknacre2,277 St Osyth2,249 Great Horkesley2,232 Rayne2,169 Chigwell Row2,115 Ramsden Heath1,949 Black Notley1,932 Wickham Bishops1,923 Ingrave and Herongate1,856 Mistley1,827 Great Yeldham1,824 Marks Tey1,817 Copford1,794 Hatfield Heath1,789 Great Chesterford1,775 Eight Ash Green1,769 Elmstead Market1,767 North Benfleet1,765 Great Bentley1,746 Point Clear1,707 Manningtree1,676 Abridge1,651 West Horndon1,648 Thorpe-le-Soken1,590 Roydon1,587 Stock1,573 Horndon on the Hill1,510 Gosfield1,453 Little Hallingbury1,434 Orsett1,428 Thorrington1,427 Tye Green1,415 Steeple Bumpstead1,376 Great Bardfield1,372 Layer-de-la-Haye1,338 Weeley1,285 Bradfield1,254 Felsted1,233 Crays Hill1,218 Canewdon1,216 Kirby-le-Soken1,207 Blackmore1,167 Southfields1,167 Cold Norton1,161 Latchingdon1,140 Ramsey Island1,139 Coopersale1,067 Stebbing1,061 Tolleshunt Knights1,059 Henham1,046 Castle Hedingham1,045 Ardleigh1,042 Little Waltham1,038 Thornwood Common1,030 Langenhoe and Abberton1,010

109 places under 1,000 people

Althorne Arkesden Ashdon Baker Street Barnston Battlesbridge Birchanger Boxted Boxted Cross Bradwell Broadley Common Brock Hill Bulphan Bumble's Green Burton End Chafford Hundred Chappel Chrishall Clavering Coalhill Colne Engaine Debden Dedham Dedham Heath Downham East Hanningfield Elder Street Elmdon Finchingfield Fingringhoe Fobbing Ford End Fordham Frating Green Fryerning Fyfield Gay Bowers Goldhanger Great Holland Great Oakley Great Tey Great Waltham Hadstock Hare Green Hatfield Broad Oak Havering's Grove Heybridge Basin High Beech High Easter High Garrett High Park Corner High Roding Howe Green Lamarsh Langford Langham Langley Layer Breton Little Burstead Little Totham Littlebury Manuden Margaretting Matching Green Moreton Nevendon Noak Hill North Fambridge Nounsley Panfield Parkeston Pebmarsh Peldon Purleigh Radwinter Ramsden Bellhouse Rawreth Rettendon Rickling Green and Quendon Ridgewell Roxwell Roydon Hamlet Sandon School Green Seawick Sewards End Sewardstone Shalford Sheering Stapleford Abbotts Steeple Stonebridge Stoneyhills Sturmer Takeley Street Tillingham Tolleshunt D'Arcy Tolleshunt Major Toppesfield Weeley Heath West Hanningfield Wethersfield White Colne Wicken Bonhunt Wickham St Paul Widdington Wix Woodham Ferrers Woodham Mortimer

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Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only · ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.