Cowdray Avenue is in Colchester and in Colchester district. CO1 1YH is located in the Castle electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Colchester. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, CO1 1YH and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: CO1 1XW, CO1 1LY, CO1 1XX, CO1 1GD, CO1 1JX, CO1 1XN.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding CO1 1YH has a slightly higher male population, with 51.5% of residents being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 45.8% | 48.5% | 2.7% | 51.0% | -2.5% |
| Male | 54.2% | 51.5% | -2.7% | 49.0% | 2.5% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 39.5% | 38.8% | -0.7% | 37.9% | 0.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 45.9% | 44.6% | -1.3% | 44.2% | 0.4% |
| Separated | 1.8% | 2.8% | 1.0% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Divorced | 7.3% | 8.9% | 1.6% | 9.1% | -0.2% |
| Widowed | 5.5% | 4.9% | -0.6% | 6.1% | -1.2% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (88%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 42% | 48.9% | 6.9% | 48.4% | 0.5% |
| Good health | 36.4% | 39.1% | 2.7% | 33.6% | 5.5% |
| Fair health | 15.9% | 8.3% | -7.6% | 12.7% | -4.4% |
| Bad health | 3.8% | 3% | -0.8% | 4.0% | -1.0% |
| Very bad health | 1.9% | 0.8% | -1.1% | 1.2% | -0.4% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 44.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 18.2% | 12.3% | -5.9% | 18.2% | -5.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.9% | 9.5% | -6.4% | 9.6% | -0.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.6% | 13.5% | -0.1% | 13.4% | 0.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1% | 4.6% | 0.5% | 5.3% | -0.7% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.4% | 14.4% | 3.0% | 16.9% | -2.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 29.5% | 44.2% | 14.7% | 33.8% | 10.4% |
| Other | 7.3% | 1.5% | -5.8% | 2.8% | -1.3% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 83.1% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Chinese | 1.1% | 3% | 1.9% | 0.7% | 2.3% |
| Indian | 1.1% | 1% | -0.1% | 3.1% | -2.1% |
| Pakistani | 2.3% | 1.5% | -0.8% | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| Other Asian | 2.3% | 1.8% | -0.5% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.0% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.5% | 2% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| Mixed Other | 3% | 1.3% | -1.7% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| White | 86% | 83.1% | -2.9% | 81.4% | 1.7% |
| Arab | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Other | 1.1% | 1.8% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
In this area, 77.2% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 84.8% | 77.2% | -7.6% | 83.2% | -6.0% |
| European Union | 4.9% | 9.7% | 4.8% | 6.1% | 3.6% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.8% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 0.8% | 1.9% |
| Africa | 1.9% | 2.2% | 0.3% | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 5.7% | 4.2% | -1.5% | 5.6% | -1.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.5% | 4% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 2.7% |
| Oceania | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 84.5% | 77.9% | -6.6% | 83.2% | -5.3% |
| 10+ Years | 3% | 13.8% | 10.8% | 9.8% | 4.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.8% | 3.8% | 0.0% | 2.9% | 0.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.7% | 2.5% | -0.2% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.1% | 2% | -4.1% | 1.9% | 0.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 75.8% | 76.7% | -0.9% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| France | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Germany | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Italy | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Portugal | 1% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Spain | 1% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Lithuania | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Poland | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Romania | 1% | 0.9% | 0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 3.8% | 1.5% | 2.3% |
| Turkey | 1% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Central and South America | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| No passport held | 9.6% | 13.5% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 49.2% | 37.2% | 12.0% |
| Christian | 40.5% | 46.2% | -5.7% |
| Hindu | 1.5% | 1.7% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 3.5% | 6.5% | -3.0% |
| Not answered | 5.3% | 6.0% | -0.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Cowdray Avenue was 151.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 51.5% lower than the Castle average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Cowdray Avenue has the 19th highest crime rate of 41 local areas in Castle and the 89th highest crime rate of 615 local areas in Colchester .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 64.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -71.7%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 56% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenpin Bowling Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex Other, an established residential building | £2,500,000 | 2017-10-06 | £2,589,686 |
CO1 1YH area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 137 |
| Retired | 53 |
| Self-Employed | 36 |
| Part-Time Employee | 32 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 17 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 15 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Other | 5 |
| Unemployed | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 21 |
| Education | 17 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 13 |
| Construction | 12 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 10 |
| Human health and social work activities | 8 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 6 |
| Other | 4 |
| Transport and storage | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Primary School and Nursery John Harper Street , CO1 1RP | 3out of 4 | 659 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St James' Church of England Primary School Guildford Road , CO1 2RA | 1out of 4 | 961 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen Boudica Primary School Cowper Crescent , CO4 5XT | 3out of 4 | 1,108 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester Priory Street , CO1 2QB | 4out of 4 | 1,121 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's Green Primary School St John's Green , CO2 7HE | 3out of 4 | 1,408 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Helena School Sheepen Road , CO3 3LE | 3out of 4 | 1,113 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School Lexden Road , CO3 3ND | 4out of 4 | 1,788 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| The Gilberd School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | 4out of 4 | 2,440 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Trinity School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | - not rated | 2,458 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Benedict's Catholic College Norman Way , CO3 3US | 3out of 4 | 2,567 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sixth Form College Colchester North Hill , CO1 1SN | - not rated | 1,021 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Institute Sheepen Road , CO3 3LL | - not rated | 1,179 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester High School Wellesley Road , CO3 3HD | - not rated | 1,641 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oxford House School 2 Lexden Road , CO3 3NE | - not rated | 1,695 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingswode Hoe School Sussex Road , CO3 3QJ | 3out of 4 | 1,865 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| North East Essex Co-operative Academy Turner Road , Mile End CO4 5LB | 3out of 4 | 1,924 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's School for Girls 91 Lexden Road , CO3 3RB | - not rated | 2,147 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Bananas Colchester Ltd | 9-10 Mason Road, Colchester | 437 yd | |
| Colchester Leisure World | Cowdray Avenue, Colchester | 624 yd | |
| Tenpin | Cowdray Avenue, Colchester | 624 yd | |
| Putt in the Park | Cafe In The Park, Castle Road | 657 yd | |
| Johnsons Catering and Leisure | Cafe in the Park, Castle Road | 657 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Albert | Cowdray Avenue, Colchester | 642 yd | |
| Victoria Inn | 10 North Station Road, Colchester | 726 yd | |
| The Magnet | 134 North Station Road, Colchester | 741 yd | |
| The Foresters Arms | Forresters Arms, 1-2 Castle Road | 770 yd | |
| Ye Olde Marquis | 24-25 North Hill, Colchester | 861 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds Restaurants Ltd | Mcdonalds, Cowdray Avenue | 642 yd | |
| New Yummy | 55 North Station Road, Colchester | 675 yd | |
| Bar B Q House | 45 North Station Road, Colchester | 681 yd | |
| Kismet | 31 North Station Road, Colchester | 690 yd | |
| Kismet Balti House | Kismet, 31 North Station Road | 690 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland Foods Ltd | Unit 4, Turner Rise Retail Park | 555 yd | |
| Jam International Store | 35 North Station Road, Colchester | 688 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | Sainsburys Supermarket, 11-14 Priory Walk | 1,005 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester Leisure World COWDRAY AVENUE | artificial grass pitch, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool | 95 yd |
| Crossfit Colchester (Closed) Unit D8 Unit D8 Cowdray Avenue | health and fitness suite | 239 yd |
| Colchester And East Essex Cricket Club Catchpool Road | grass pitches | 421 yd |
| Fitness First Health Club (Colchester) (Closed) Petroliam Close | health and fitness suite | 509 yd |
| Sports Direct Fitness (Colchester) CLARENDON WAY | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 578 yd |
| Hercules Body Building And Weight Training Club COLNE BANK AVENUE | health and fitness suite | 918 yd |
| St James C Of E Primary School GUILDFORD ROAD | grass pitches | 973 yd |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester NORTH HILL | artificial grass pitch, health and fitness suite | 1,062 yd |
| The Gym (Colchester) 20-28 20-28 QUEEN STREET | health and fitness suite | 1,067 yd |
| Playfootball Colchester SHEEPEN ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 1,085 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 50.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 50.0% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.