COLCHESTER is one of the top 200 places in the UK to live in 2021, according to new analysis.
Property experts Garrington has ranked 1,372 places to create the definitive league table of post-Covid property hotspots.
Locations were scored on their proximity to open water, national parts and areas of outstanding beauty, the number of listed and period homes, air quality, crime figures and the number of farm shops within a three-mile radius.
Bath took first place thanks to its architecture and nearby rolling hills and open spaces.
It scored top for its architectural beauty, 40 for its natural beauty and 269 for quality of life. The average cost of a family home is listed at £650,000.
Colchester came in 172nd place in the rankings, above many of its Essex neighbours.
Garrington ranked the town in 259th place for natural beauty and 264th for architectural beauty.
Quality of life in the town was also ranked in 259th place.
The price of homes in Colchester is what boosted it up the rankings, with the average family home costing between £350k and £650k.
This put it in 106th place out of 605 places in its price band.
Colchester was not actually the highest rank place in our part of Essex, however.
Halstead actually finished higher in the rankings, coming in 107th place.
Not all the areas in north and mix Essex are ranked, but here are the ones which were included:
Halstead
Overall rank: 107 / 1372
Natural beauty rank: 310 / 1372
Quality of life rank: 189 / 1372
Architectural beauty rank: 199 / 1372
Average family home cost: £350k-£650k
Rank in price band: 72 / 605
Colchester
Overall rank: 172 / 1,372
Natural beauty rank: 359 / 1,372
Quality of life rank: 259 / 1,372
Architectural beauty rank: 264 / 1,372
Average family home cost: £350k-£650k
Rank in price band: 106 / 605
Maldon
Overall rank: 580 / 1372
Natural beauty rank: 716 / 1372
Quality of life rank: 773 / 1372
Architectural beauty rank: 490 / 1372
Average family home cost: £350k-£650k
Rank in price band: 289 / 605
Chelmsford
Overall rank: 792 / 1372
Natural beauty rank: 958 / 1372
Quality of life rank: 670 / 1372
Architectural beauty rank: 653 / 1372
Average family home cost: £350k-£650k
Rank in price band: 388 / 605
To see the full list, visit www.garrington.co.uk/best-places-to-live-in-2021.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel