Safest places to live in Essex
Essex’s 14 areas ranked by crime rate — safest areas, lowest crime. Every figure from police.uk, Jun 2026. Indicative, not a valuation.
| # | Area | Crime rate (per 1,000) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maldon | 4.6 |
| 2 | Rochford | 4.7 |
| 3 | Castle Point | 5.8 |
| 4 | Braintree | 6.0 |
| 5 | Uttlesford | 6.1 |
| 6 | Brentwood | 6.5 |
| 7 | Epping Forest | 7.5 |
| 8 | Chelmsford | 7.8 |
| 9 | Basildon | 8.8 |
| 10 | Thurrock | 8.8 |
| 11 | Colchester | 9.0 |
| 12 | Tendring | 10.3 |
| 13 | Southend-on-Sea | 11.2 |
| 14 | Harlow | 11.5 |
Source: police.uk · Jun 2026. Ranked lowest first.
Other Essex rankings
House prices5-year house-price growthPrice per square metreAffordability (price vs local earnings)Schools rated Good or OutstandingGigabit broadband availabilityFastest train to the cityCouncil tax (Band D)Deprivation (IMD decile, 10 = least deprived)Air quality — NO₂Air quality — PM2.5Flood risk (in a flood zone)Life satisfactionUnemployment rateHome ownershipDegree-level educationResidents in good healthMedian age