Eight Ash Green’s story
4 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Eight Ash Green’s built-up area.
10% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Eight Ash GreenEssex
With 1,769 residents, it is a village in Essex, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Glyn Baker · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,769
Census 2021 · Colchester council
Median home
£401K
114 sales in 3 years
Median age
45.9
24% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
31%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
10%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Eight Ash Green a good place to live?
Health is a strength: life expectancy is 81.7 for men and 86.5 for women. Most journeys need a car: 10% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. At a median £401,497, a home costs 6.5 times the yearly income of households in the Colchester council area. It also trails on safety — 28.7 violent and sexual offences and 10.7 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Only 18% of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people have more crime per resident. Its other grades sit near the middle: B for jobs & income and C+ for hazard risk.
Figures: life expectancy and incomes, ONS · commuting, Census 2021 · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · claimants, DWP · flood risk, Environment Agency. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Eight Ash Green has its subject grades alone.
What makes Eight Ash Green stand out
The 3 things Eight Ash Green does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.4 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
24% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Eight Ash Green grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Eight Ash Green is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesAOpen →WalkabilityMost errands need a carC−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 72% of towns in England; secondary results beat 69% of towns in EnglandA−Open →SafetyWeaker than most of the towns comparedC+Open →Jobs & income2.8% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsBOpen →Hazard risk0.4% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC+Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryLittle recorded history by comparisonC−Open →Outdoors80% live within 400 m of a park; 8.2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsB+Open →Civic life1.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Colchester Zoo and 10 more in and around Eight Ash Green
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Eight Ash Green. Best known first.
ZooColchester Zoo3.2 km outside town, to the south
FortBalkerne Gate4.6 km outside town, to the east
GardenSergeants Orchard4.7 km outside town, to the northwest
Art galleryAlbert Hall4.8 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumEast Anglian Railway Museum3.8 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumRestoration Shed3.9 km outside town, to the northwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- Colchester Zoo: Angela Tuff, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Balkerne Gate: Tanya2501, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sergeants Orchard: Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Albert Hall: Jo and Steve Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Eight Ash Green.
Health
People in Eight Ash Green live longer lives than in 84% of UK towns
Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 4.1% of the town. Seeing a GP means leaving Eight Ash Green: the nearest practice is 1.2 miles away. The nearest A&E to Eight Ash Green is Colchester General Hospital, 3.7 miles away.
83%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Eight Ash Green | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 17% | 17% | 17% |
81.7
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Young towns look healthier on these answers, which aren’t adjusted for age; the Health Grade uses measures that are, such as life expectancy and early deaths.
SchoolsA−
Exam results at Eight Ash Green’s schools top 75% of towns in England
Nearly two thirds of pupils at the 9 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). There is one school here; it is shown below. Secondary results at the one secondary school within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 48.3, with 52% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
A−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and AldhamLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 102 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
Eight Ash Green’s listed buildings: 4, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
10% of homes date from before 1919. Per 10,000 residents, Eight Ash Green counts 23 listed buildings.
4listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II4
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
10%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
23
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
Eight Ash Green has fewer young adults than Essex’s towns or England’s towns: 8.2% are 15 to 24
Nearly a quarter of residents are 65 or over. Children under 15 make up 17%, below Essex’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. At 45.9, the median resident of Eight Ash Green sits in the middle of the age range. Among adults, 31% have a degree.
45.9median age
Eight Ash GreenEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level31%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Eight Ash Green | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.2% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 31% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Eight Ash Green is a driving town: 87% of commuters go by car, above Essex’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 32% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
5% of commuters who live in Eight Ash Green also work there. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 30%, below Essex’s towns (41%) and England’s towns (45%) alike. Income per household averages £67K a year, before tax.
10%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving87%
On foot5%
Bicycle2%
Train2%
Bus1%
30%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
£67K
mean household income, before tax
2.8%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 24% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Safety
For a town of its size, Eight Ash Green records a lot of crime: more per resident than 82% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Over the year to August 2026, 89 offences were reported in Eight Ash Green, along with 6 incidents of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences were nearly half of the crimes. There were 3.6 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), below Essex’s towns (4.6) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
28.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 18% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual44
Other theft18
Drugs6
Vehicle crime6
Shoplifting5
Damage & arson4
Other crime4
Public order1
Anti-social6
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
28.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
89
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
HousingCost of living grade B−
Eight Ash Green is a town of owners: 77% of households own their home, above Essex’s towns and England’s towns
Half of the 114 standard sales inside Eight Ash Green’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £401,497. Private rents average £1,197 a month across the Colchester council area.
£401Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Eight Ash Green£401K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £450,000 | 83 |
| Semi-detached | £314,997 | 22 |
| Terraced | £268,000 | 9 |
77%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,197
average private rent a month, Colchester council area
£2,309
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Eight Ash Green
14pages on Eight Ash Green
The big questions
SafetyC+28.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £401K · rent £1,197 a monthHousing23 sold in 12 months · busiest street Brood ChaseSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 81.7 (men), 86.5 (women)Work & commuteB54% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC+0.4% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Eight Ash Green’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
CopfordWest BergholtMarks TeyGreat HorkesleyColchesterLayer-de-la-HayeBerechurchEight Ash Green
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eight Ash Green | 1,769 | — | — | B− | C+ | A |
| Copford | 1,794 | 1.6 | — | C+ | B | A− |
| West Bergholt | 3,175 | 1.9 | A+ | B− | B+ | A |
| Marks Tey | 1,817 | 2.6 | — | B+ | B+ | A− |
| Great Horkesley | 2,232 | 3.3 | — | B− | B+ | A |
| Colchester | 130,259 | 3.7 | B | A− | D | C |
| Layer-de-la-Haye | 1,338 | 4.1 | — | C+ | A− | A |
| Berechurch | 7,702 | 4.8 | C+ | A | D | D |
Copford, Marks Tey, Great Horkesley and Layer-de-la-Haye have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Eight Ash Green
Is Eight Ash Green safe?
Burglary was rare, with 1 report in the year.
Are schools in Eight Ash Green good?
GCSE results beat 69% of towns in England, and primary results beat 72% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Essex council.
Is Eight Ash Green expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £401,497, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £268,000, semi-detached houses £314,997 and detached houses £450,000. Household incomes are higher than in 84% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B−.
About Eight Ash Green
Village in Essex, England
Eight Ash Green is a built-up area of 1,769 people, in the Colchester council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 1,769 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Colchester
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004096
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. 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.