Happiest places to live in Essex
Essex’s 14 areas ranked by life satisfaction — happiest areas. Every figure from ONS Personal Well-being (Annual Population Survey), 2022/23. Indicative, not a valuation.
| # | Area | Life satisfaction (/10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentwood | 7.9 |
| 2 | Castle Point | 7.8 |
| 3 | Colchester | 7.8 |
| 4 | Thurrock | 7.6 |
| 5 | Epping Forest | 7.6 |
| 6 | Chelmsford | 7.5 |
| 7 | Harlow | 7.5 |
| 8 | Maldon | 7.4 |
| 9 | Basildon | 7.4 |
| 10 | Rochford | 7.4 |
| 11 | Southend-on-Sea | 7.4 |
| 12 | Tendring | 7.3 |
| 13 | Braintree | 7.3 |
| 14 | Uttlesford | 7.1 |
Source: ONS Personal Well-being (Annual Population Survey) · 2022/23. Ranked highest first.
Other Essex rankings
House prices5-year house-price growthPrice per square metreAffordability (price vs local earnings)Crime rateSchools 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)Unemployment rateHome ownershipDegree-level educationResidents in good healthMedian age