Colchester property guide
Britain's oldest recorded town and one of Essex's largest markets.
This guide brings together the latest property, schools and crime data for Colchester, Essex. Figures cover the 12 months to the end of August 2026 and are sourced from HM Land Registry, Police.uk and the DfE schools register. Fast trains reach London Liverpool Street in about 50 minutes.
About Colchester
Colchester's Dutch Quarter and Victorian terraces sit inside Roman walls, with family estates spreading towards Highwoods and Stanway and new supply at the former garrison.
The army garrison, the University of Essex at Wivenhoe Park and London commuting give demand three separate legs.
House prices in Colchester
The median sale price in Colchester over the last 12 months was £320,000, across 2,176 recorded transactions. That is 1.5% lower than the previous 12 months.
Detached homes were the most-traded type in Colchester, accounting for 679 of the period's sales at a median of £445,000.
Median price by property type, last 12 months
| Type | Median price | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £445,000 | 679 |
| Semi-detached | £326,000 | 638 |
| Terraced | £271,500 | 476 |
| Flat | £165,000 | 334 |
| Other | £435,000 | 49 |
Schools in Colchester
Colchester has 57 open schools recorded in the DfE register, including 39 primary, 9 secondary and 8 with a sixth form or 16-plus provision.
Nearest secondary schools to Colchester centre
| School | Postcode | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester Royal Grammar School | CO3 3ND | 1.2 km |
| St Helena School | CO3 3LE | 1.2 km |
| Colchester County High School for Girls | CO3 3US | 2 km |
| The Thomas Lord Audley School | CO2 8NJ | 2.3 km |
| Philip Morant School and College | CO3 4QS | 2.3 km |
Crime in Colchester
In Colchester, the largest reported categories over the last 12 months were violence and sexual offences (37.2%), anti-social behaviour (10.5%) and criminal damage and arson (9.5%).
Largest reported categories, last 12 months
| Category | Share |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 37.2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 10.5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 9.5% |
| Public order | 8.3% |
| Other theft | 7.5% |
Postcode districts in Colchester
Reported incident counts vary across postcode districts within the Colchester boundary, partly reflecting where Police.uk anonymises locations and partly reflecting genuine differences in foot traffic and population density.
| Postcode district | Reports (12m) |
|---|---|
| CO1 | 10,348 |
| CO2 | 10,348 |
| CO3 | 10,348 |
| CO4 | 10,348 |
| CO5 | 10,348 |
Living near Colchester
Nearby towns include Chelmsford, Basildon, Clacton-on-sea, Harlow and Brentwood.
- Chelmsford
- Basildon
- Clacton-on-sea
- Harlow
- Brentwood
Other places in Essex
Frequently asked questions about Colchester
Planning applications near Colchester
Extensions, new homes and commercial schemes shape an area's prices before they reach the sold data. PlanIndex indexes applications from Colchester, with decisions and approval rates.
Get the full report for any Colchester address
A single report covering the property and its surroundings: sale history, flood risk, planning, EPC, schools, crime and broadband. £29.
Search an addressPage data refreshed 1 November 2026.