House prices in Colchester
The median price paid for a home in Colchester was £315,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 2,469 sales. House prices in Colchester fell 1.6% in the year to September 2026, and are 7.5% higher than five years earlier. In the 12 months to September 2026, the median price in Colchester was 5% lower than the median for East of England (£332,500). The average private rent in Colchester was £1,197 a month in August 2026, 2.0% up on a year earlier (ONS). Colchester had 8.3 crimes per 100 people recorded by the police in the 12 months to August 2026.
House prices in Colchester
The median price paid in Colchester was £315,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 2,469 sales, or £3,674 per square metre of floor area.
By type of home
| Type | Median price | Sales | Per m² | 1 year | 5 years | East of England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £440,000 | 727 | £4,020 | −2.2% | +6.0% | £457,500 |
| Semi-detached | £325,000 | 737 | £3,810 | 0.0% | +10.2% | £340,062 |
| Terraced | £270,000 | 580 | £3,584 | 0.0% | +12.5% | £300,000 |
| Flats | £165,000 | 425 | £2,872 | −4.5% | +1.5% | £200,000 |
Compared with East of England and England
Median price
Price per m² of floor area
| Area | Median price | 1 year | 5 years | Per m² | Per m², 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester | £315,000 | −1.6% | +7.5% | £3,674 | −2.0% |
| East of England | £332,500 | −2.2% | +5.6% | £3,841 | −0.7% |
| England | £285,000 | −1.4% | +5.6% | £3,333 | −0.6% |
By floor area, homes in Colchester sold for a median £3,674 per m² in the 12 months to September 2026, 4% lower than the figure for East of England (£3,841).
Colchester has the 136th highest median price of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 18th lowest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Its −1.6% change over the year is the 94th biggest price fall of 317 in England and Wales, and the 18th biggest fall of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Rents in Colchester
The average private rent in Colchester was £1,197 a month in August 2026, 2.0% up on a year earlier. Rents in Colchester are 31.4% higher than five years earlier (August 2026 against August 2021).
Colchester has the 125th highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 20th lowest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
How many homes sell in Colchester
2,224 homes were sold in Colchester in the 12 months to September 2026, 1.11 for every 100 people living there. In the 12 months to June 2026, sales in Colchester were 5.3% up on the year before and 37.6% lower than five years earlier.
That is the 107th most sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 17th most of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Home sales per 100 people: sales recorded by HM Land Registry, less those not at full market value, against ONS's population estimate.
Crime in Colchester
The police recorded 16,685 crimes in Colchester in the 12 months to August 2026, 8.3 for every 100 people living or working there. Recorded crime in Colchester rose 8.5% in the 12 months to August 2026 compared with the 12 months before, and is 4.1% lower than three years earlier.
| Kind of crime | Per 100 people |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 4.05 |
| Anti-social behaviour, damage, drugs and public order | 2.68 |
| Theft and vehicle crime | 1.22 |
| Burglary and robbery | 0.37 |
Colchester has the 117th highest crime rate of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures, and the 15th highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
The figure for England leaves out Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester, whose police have not published every month.
Street crime from police.uk. People are those living there plus those coming in to work, so town and city centres aren't overstated.
Deprivation in Colchester
Colchester is the 129th least deprived of 296 local authorities in England on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is the most deprived).
| Part of the index | Rank of 296 (1 = most deprived) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 168th |
| Income | 165th |
| Employment | 175th |
| Education and skills | 171st |
| Health | 131st |
| Crime | 114th |
| Barriers to housing and services | 132nd |
| Living environment | 225th |
Broadband and mobile in Colchester
82.2% of premises in Colchester can get gigabit broadband and 97.1% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), by Ofcom's latest figures. 68.0% can get full fibre, and 0.7% get under 10 Mbit/s. Its gigabit coverage is the 80th lowest of 318 local authorities in England and Wales.
Premises able to get gigabit broadband
86.7% of premises in Colchester get good 4G indoors from all four mobile networks (England: 91.2%).
People moving in and out in Colchester
In the year ending June 2025, 13,676 people moved to Colchester from elsewhere in the UK and 14,062 moved away, a net loss of 386 (1.9 per 1,000 residents).
Most moved in from
- Tendring 1,248
- Braintree 938
- Chelmsford 600
Most moved out to
- Tendring 1,998
- Braintree 786
- Babergh 725
Moves within the UK only (ONS internal migration); people arriving from or leaving for abroad aren't counted.
Questions about Colchester
How much does a house cost in Colchester?
The median price paid for a home in Colchester was £315,000 in the 12 months to September 2026. By type: detached £440,000; semi-detached £325,000; terraced £270,000; flats £165,000.
Are house prices in Colchester going up?
In the year to September 2026, the median price in Colchester fell 1.6%, and over five years it rose 7.5%. Across East of England prices fell 2.2% over the same year.
How much is rent in Colchester?
The average private rent in Colchester was £1,197 a month in August 2026. 1 bed £820; 2 bed £1,063; 3 bed £1,301; 4+ bed £1,796.
Is Colchester a safe place to live?
Colchester had 8.3 crimes per 100 people in the 12 months to August 2026, the 117th highest of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures. The figure for East of England was 7.2. Crime varies a lot from street to street: look up a postcode on the map for its own figures.
Can you get full fibre broadband in Colchester?
68.0% of premises in Colchester can get full fibre and 82.2% can get gigabit broadband, by Ofcom's latest figures.
Nearby areas
Sources: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, ONS (private rents, population estimates, internal migration), police.uk, MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Ofcom Connected Nations. Figures updated November 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right; Office for National Statistics and police.uk data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.