Great Waltham or Boxted: Which Is Better Value?
Great Waltham averages £550,000 against £525,000 in Boxted, a gap of £25,000 or 5%. You would need £2,500 more deposit and about £132 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Boxted charges £3 less council tax at Band D.
Great Waltham averages £550,000 against £525,000 in Boxted, a gap of £25,000 or 5%. You would need £2,500 more deposit and about £132 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Boxted charges £3 less council tax at Band D.
Price and deposit
The headline gap is £25,000, or 5%. On a 10% deposit that is £2,500 more cash to find before you start. Detached homes average £462,500 against £475,000.
Great Waltham against Boxted
Town guides for each: Mortgage advice in Great Waltham and Mortgage advice in Boxted.
Schools and families
Boxted holds its own on schools, with 1 graded Outstanding at their last graded Ofsted inspection (before September 2024) against 0 in Great Waltham. Counting last graded Ofsted inspections (before September 2024), Great Waltham has 1 school and Boxted has 2 schools graded Good or better.
A strong catchment in the cheaper town can cost more than an average street in the dearer one. Compare catchments, not averages.
Running costs and getting to work
Band D council tax is £2,353 in Great Waltham and £2,350 in Boxted, a difference of £3 a year.
The honest verdict
Boxted is cheaper to buy on these figures. Great Waltham carries the higher price and, on this data, not the stronger school profile.
Neither is right in the abstract. If the deposit is your constraint, the £2,500 difference matters more than anything else here. If catchment is the constraint, price follows the school you need.
What each town is actually like
Price is one axis. These are the things people move for, and the things they find out afterwards.
Great Waltham
In its favour- A large, characterful village
- Conservation-area High Street & medieval church
- The Langleys estate & Chelmer valley countryside
- A village primary & grammars within reach
- No railway station in the village
- Prices above the national average
- Country-lane traffic at peak times
- Grammar entry is by competitive exam, not catchment
Best for Families ★★★★★
A village primary rated Good, grammar schools within reach in Chelmsford and the countryside on the doorstep.
Boxted
In its favour- A sought-after rural Stour-valley village
- Orchards, water-meadows & Dedham Vale
- Near Colchester & its fast London trains
- A village primary & grammar options nearby
- Prices above the national average
- No railway station in the village
- A car is essential; sparse public transport
- Larger period & country homes mean substantial lending
Best for Families ★★★★★
A Good village primary (Boxted St Peter's), Outstanding grammar options in Colchester, space, safety and countryside on the doorstep.
Great Waltham and Boxted, side by side
| Measure | Great Waltham | Boxted |
|---|---|---|
| Average property price | £550,000 | £525,000 |
| Average detached | £462,500 | £475,000 |
| 10% deposit | £55,000 | £52,500 |
| Illustrative monthly payment | £2,894 | £2,762 |
| Band D council tax | £2,353 | £2,350 |
| Outstanding rated schools | 0 | 1 |
| Good rated schools | 1 | 1 |
Local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own figures before acting.
Ask about Great Waltham
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Great Waltham or Boxted
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Great Waltham or Boxted, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
Is Great Waltham or Boxted cheaper?
Which has better schools?
Which is cheaper to run?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Great Waltham or Boxted?
Read next
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.