City comparison
Braintree vs Central Bedfordshire
Braintree, East of England · Central Bedfordshire, East of England
Braintree · 5Central Bedfordshire leads on 6 of 23 metrics · 12 tiesCentral Bedfordshire · 6
Headline scores
Composite indexes, 0–100 (higher is better).
43
✓ leads
Liveability
Weighted index of safety, schools, transport, affordability and amenities.
Δ -6 pts
37
72
Safety
Higher = lower crime and ASB rates per 1,000 residents.
Δ +2 pts
74
48
✓ leads
Transport
Higher = closer to rail, more bus stops, faster commute reach.
Δ -7 pts
42
28
Schools
Higher = more Good/Outstanding Ofsted schools within 2 km.
Δ +17 pts
45
✓ leads
Cost of living
Native units — what residents actually pay.
£1,203/mo
Est. rent
LAD-published rent scaled by within-LAD price gradient (HMLR sales) with neighbour smoothing. Within ±15-25% of true market median; varies LSOA-to-LSOA.
Δ +£16/mo
£1,219/mo
£1,525/mo
Total monthly cost
Rent + council tax (1/12) + EPC-band utility estimate.
Δ +£37/mo
£1,562/mo
£2,193/yr
✓ leads
Council tax
Δ +£310/yr
£2,503/yr
5.0 yrs
Years to 10% deposit
Years for the local median earner to save a 10% deposit at the local median price.
Δ -0.1 yrs
4.9 yrs
Earning power
£34,546/yr
Median salary
Δ +£2,076/yr
£36,622/yr
✓ leads
60%
Rent ÷ take-home pay
How much of the local median take-home goes on rent.
Δ -3 pp
57%
0.34
Jobs per resident
Workplace job count divided by working-age residents.
Δ +0.05
0.38
✓ leads
Safety detail
53.1
Crime per 1,000 / yr
Δ -2.2
51.0
Schools detail
33%
% Good/Outstanding (within 2 km)
Δ 0 pp
33%
Connectivity
2.1 km
✓ leads
Nearest rail station
Δ +653 m
2.8 km
82 min
Commute to nearest job hub
Public-transport time to the nearest of 10 major UK job hubs.
Δ -8 min
74 min
✓ leads
100%
Gigabit broadband coverage
Δ 0 pp
100%
People & vibe
How busy and varied the neighbourhood is — what's actually around to do.
—
Population
—
2,165 / km²
Population density
People per km². Higher = denser urban; lower = leafier.
1,659 / km²
25%
% with a degree
Δ +8 pp
33%
✓ leads
30%
% working from home
Δ +6 pp
36%
✓ leads
0
Restaurants nearby
Restaurants within ~5 minutes' walk (500 m).
Δ 0
0
—
Pubs & bars nearby
Pubs and bars combined, within 500 m.
—
0
Cafés nearby
Cafés within 500 m.
Δ 0
0
0
Supermarkets nearby
Supermarkets within 500 m.
Δ 0
0
0
Gyms within 1 km
Δ 0
0
1
✓ leads
Parks within 500 m
Δ -1
0