Broomfield, #1 on this list · Photo: John Salmon · CC BY-SA 2.0

Essex rankings · Walkability

Most walkable towns in Essex

Broomfield ranks first on walkability among Essex’s 81 towns of 2,500+; 35 of the 81 grade A− or better against UK towns.

The Walkability Grade: the share of commuters who walked, cycled or took public transport to work at the 2021 Census (taken in lockdown). The rank across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sits beside each letter. How grades work

Broomfield

3,491 people

A⁺

Better than almost every UK town·#39 of 2,515 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Buckhurst Hill

11,749 people

A⁺

Better than 98% of UK towns·#53 of 2,515 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Loughton

33,338 people

A⁺

Better than 97% of UK towns·#80 of 2,515 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

All 81 towns, ranked

Walkability grade, best first; ranks are the county ranks on each town’s page (T = tied). Military garrison towns and university campuses keep their grades but aren’t ranked. Each rank across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland links to the national list.

Every town in Essex →

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81 towns.

#TownGrade · UK rankCompared with UK towns

1Broomfield3,491 peopleA⁺#39 of 2,515 nationallybetter than almost every UK town

2Buckhurst Hill11,749 peopleA⁺#53 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 98% of UK towns

3Loughton33,338 peopleA⁺#80 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 97% of UK towns

4Epping10,693 peopleA⁺#91 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 97% of UK towns

5Purfleet-on-Thames5,881 peopleA⁺#93 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 97% of UK towns

6Southend-on-Sea182,295 peopleA⁺#112 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 96% of UK towns

7Chigwell12,251 peopleA⁺#121 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 96% of UK towns

8Tilbury14,187 peopleA⁺#131 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 96% of UK towns

T9Brentwood55,339 peopleA#172 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 94% of UK towns

T9Chafford Hundred and West Thurrock23,589 peopleA#172 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 94% of UK towns

11Chelmsford110,612 peopleA#192 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 94% of UK towns

T12Colchester130,259 peopleA#217 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 93% of UK towns

T12South Ockendon22,441 peopleA#217 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 93% of UK towns

14Grays44,340 peopleA#236 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 93% of UK towns

15Ingatestone5,411 peopleA#295 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 91% of UK towns

T16Basildon115,935 peopleA#367 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 89% of UK towns

T16Theydon Bois3,540 peopleA#367 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 89% of UK towns

18Wivenhoe7,354 peopleA#405 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 88% of UK towns

19Saffron Walden16,609 peopleA#458 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 86% of UK towns

20Billericay34,068 peopleA⁻#505 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 85% of UK towns

21East Tilbury5,751 peopleA⁻#519 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 85% of UK towns

22Harlow93,570 peopleA⁻#558 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 84% of UK towns

23Witham27,395 peopleA⁻#574 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 83% of UK towns

24Aveley9,364 peopleA⁻#579 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 83% of UK towns

25Waltham Abbey18,645 peopleA⁻#595 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 82% of UK towns

26Burnham-on-Crouch7,806 peopleA⁻#642 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 81% of UK towns

27Frinton-on-Sea4,865 peopleA⁻#651 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 81% of UK towns

28Clacton-on-Sea53,190 peopleA⁻#685 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 80% of UK towns

29Rayleigh32,383 peopleA⁻#709 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 79% of UK towns

30Harwich20,219 peopleA⁻#783 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 77% of UK towns

31Writtle4,703 peopleA⁻#798 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 76% of UK towns

32Braintree43,179 peopleA⁻#806 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 76% of UK towns

33Kelvedon and Feering4,771 peopleA⁻#813 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 76% of UK towns

34Walton-on-the-Naze6,980 peopleA⁻#831 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 75% of UK towns

35Chadwell St Mary10,680 peopleA⁻#838 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 75% of UK towns

36Stansted Mountfitchet8,629 peopleB⁺#846 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 75% of UK towns

37West Bergholt3,175 peopleB⁺#867 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 74% of UK towns

38Canvey Island38,004 peopleB⁺#872 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 74% of UK towns

39Runwell8,086 peopleB⁺#907 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 73% of UK towns

40Hockley and Hawkwell15,430 peopleB⁺#924 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 72% of UK towns

41Rochford12,617 peopleB⁺#956 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 72% of UK towns

42Thundersley and South Benfleet49,886 peopleB⁺#1,036 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 69% of UK towns

T43Coggeshall3,767 peopleB⁺#1,046 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 69% of UK towns

T43Galleywood6,410 peopleB⁺#1,046 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 69% of UK towns

T43Maldon23,389 peopleB⁺#1,046 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 69% of UK towns

46South Woodham Ferrers16,029 peopleB⁺#1,059 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 68% of UK towns

47Wickford27,533 peopleB⁺#1,066 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 68% of UK towns

48Stanford-le-Hope29,527 peopleB⁺#1,118 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 67% of UK towns

49North Weald Bassett4,323 peopleB⁺#1,133 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 66% of UK towns

50Lawford4,488 peopleB#1,186 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 65% of UK towns

51Brightlingsea8,678 peopleB#1,192 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 64% of UK towns

52West Mersea7,071 peopleB#1,240 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 63% of UK towns

53Hatfield Peverel3,622 peopleB#1,247 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 63% of UK towns

54Berechurch7,702 peopleB#1,261 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 62% of UK towns

55Chipping Ongar3,922 peopleB#1,313 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 61% of UK towns

56Jaywick5,080 peopleB#1,360 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 59% of UK towns

57Earls Colne3,360 peopleB#1,379 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 58% of UK towns

58Halstead13,902 peopleB#1,383 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 58% of UK towns

59Southminster4,548 peopleB#1,385 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 58% of UK towns

60Tollesbury2,811 peopleB#1,408 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 57% of UK towns

61Tiptree9,302 peopleB#1,415 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 57% of UK towns

T62Danbury6,196 peopleB#1,445 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 56% of UK towns

T62Great Dunmow10,395 peopleB#1,445 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 56% of UK towns

64Newport2,945 peopleB#1,464 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 55% of UK towns

65Doddinghurst4,067 peopleB⁻#1,529 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 53% of UK towns

66Kirby Cross6,036 peopleB⁻#1,674 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 48% of UK towns

67Great Wakering6,774 peopleB⁻#1,689 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 47% of UK towns

68Great Leighs2,968 peopleB⁻#1,698 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 47% of UK towns

69Hullbridge5,709 peopleB⁻#1,741 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 45% of UK towns

70Thaxted3,111 peopleC⁺#1,778 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 44% of UK towns

71Ashingdon6,490 peopleC⁺#1,809 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 42% of UK towns

72Great Notley7,659 peopleC⁺#1,854 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 41% of UK towns

73Lower Nazeing3,631 peopleC⁺#1,884 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 40% of UK towns

74Boreham3,561 peopleC⁺#1,947 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 37% of UK towns

75Elsenham3,414 peopleC⁺#1,975 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 36% of UK towns

76Takeley and Little Canfield5,553 peopleC#2,090 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 31% of UK towns

77Silver End3,913 peopleC#2,200 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 25% of UK towns

78Sible Hedingham4,261 peopleC⁻#2,217 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 24% of UK towns

79Great Totham2,773 peopleC⁻#2,293 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 19% of UK towns

80Little Dunmow2,644 peopleC⁻#2,307 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 18% of UK towns

81Mayland3,740 peopleC⁻#2,349 of 2,515 nationallybetter than 16% of UK towns

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most walkable town in Essex?

Broomfield ranks first on walkability among 81 towns, with an A+: better than almost every UK town. Buckhurst Hill and Loughton follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Walkability Grade: the share of commuters who walked, cycled or took public transport to work at the 2021 Census (taken in lockdown). The letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

Garrison towns and university campuses aren’t ranked, and towns without the figures this grade needs are counted above. The list covers Essex’s towns of 2,500+ with the figure. Smaller places show it on their own pages; every town in Essex is on the county page.

Go deeper

More Essex lists

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

All Essex rankings →

Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · 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.