Priory Street is in Colchester and in Colchester district. CO1 2QA 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 Priory Street, Colchester, CO1 2QA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: CO1 2PZ, CO1 2FA, CO1 2YH, CO1 2PY, CO1 2XT, CO1 2QB, CO1 2XS, CO1 2QE, CO1 2PF.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around CO1 2QA is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.3%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 48.1% | 51.7% | 3.6% | 51.0% | 0.7% |
| Male | 51.9% | 48.3% | -3.6% | 49.0% | -0.7% |
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 | 48.7% | 36.5% | -12.2% | 37.9% | -1.4% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 32.5% | 42.8% | 10.3% | 44.2% | -1.4% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Opposite sex | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Separated | 3.2% | 3.4% | 0.2% | 2.2% | 1.2% |
| Divorced | 10.5% | 10.1% | -0.4% | 9.1% | 1.0% |
| Widowed | 4.4% | 6.3% | 1.9% | 6.1% | 0.2% |
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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 43.5% | 48.5% | 5.0% | 48.4% | 0.1% |
| Good health | 37.6% | 35.2% | -2.4% | 33.6% | 1.6% |
| Fair health | 10.7% | 12% | 1.3% | 12.7% | -0.7% |
| Bad health | 3.1% | 3.4% | 0.3% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
| Very bad health | 5.2% | 0.9% | -4.3% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
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.
In the area around CO1 2QA this area, 6.3% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. 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 46.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 14.3% | 6.3% | -8.0% | 18.2% | -11.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13.7% | 9.2% | -4.5% | 9.6% | -0.4% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 12.9% | 14.6% | 1.7% | 13.4% | 1.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.1% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 5.3% | -1.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 13.9% | 18.9% | 5.0% | 16.9% | 2.0% |
| Degree or Similar | 36.9% | 46.1% | 9.2% | 33.8% | 12.3% |
| Other | 6.1% | 1% | -5.1% | 2.8% | -1.8% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 88.9% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 2.1% | 0% | -2.1% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 3.1% | -2.7% |
| Pakistani | 2.1% | 0% | -2.1% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 2.7% | 0% | -2.7% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| Black African | 2.3% | 1.3% | -1.0% | 2.5% | -1.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Other Black | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 0.8% | 2.6% |
| White | 84% | 88.9% | 4.9% | 81.4% | 7.5% |
| Arab | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 1% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
In this area, 80.8% 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 | 78.6% | 80.8% | 2.2% | 83.2% | -2.4% |
| European Union | 9% | 7.7% | -1.3% | 6.1% | 1.6% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.8% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 1.8% |
| Africa | 2.5% | 2.1% | -0.4% | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6.7% | 2.6% | -4.1% | 5.6% | -3.0% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% | 1.3% | 3.0% |
| Oceania | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 78.2% | 81.1% | 2.9% | 83.2% | -2.1% |
| 10+ Years | 5% | 11.2% | 6.2% | 9.8% | 1.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 5.7% | 3.4% | -2.3% | 2.9% | 0.5% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.6% | 2.1% | -1.5% | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.4% | 2.1% | -5.3% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 81.2% | 76.7% | 4.5% |
| Ireland | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| France | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Italy | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Spain | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Romania | 2.6% | 0.9% | 1.7% |
| Other EU countries | 0.4% | 1.5% | -1.1% |
| Turkey | 2.1% | 0.1% | 2.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| No passport held | 9% | 13.5% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 51.7% | 37.2% | 14.5% |
| Christian | 41% | 46.2% | -5.2% |
| Jewish | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Muslim | 2.1% | 6.5% | -4.4% |
| Other religion | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Not answered | 4.3% | 6.0% | -1.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Priory Street was 696.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 123.2% higher than the Castle average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Priory Street has the 6th highest crime rate of 41 local areas in Castle and the 10th highest crime rate of 615 local areas in Colchester .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 323.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -54.8%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £265,000 | 2023-08-18 | £270,591 |
| 38 Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £315,000 | 2022-10-17 | £306,452 |
| 22 Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £400,000 | 2022-06-27 | £403,333 |
| Masons Cottage Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £292,500 | 2021-08-27 | £323,589 |
| 40 Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £165,000 | 2021-06-29 | £186,807 |
| Full-Time Employee | 80 |
| Retired | 51 |
| Self-Employed | 24 |
| Part-Time Employee | 16 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Other | 7 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 6 |
| Looking after home or family | 3 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 49 |
| Human health and social work activities | 37 |
| Education | 35 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 26 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 26 |
| Other | 24 |
| Information and communication | 16 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 13 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Construction | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 7 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester Priory Street , CO1 2QB | 4out of 4 | 267 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's Green Primary School St John's Green , CO2 7HE | 3out of 4 | 528 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St James' Church of England Primary School Guildford Road , CO1 2RA | 1out of 4 | 648 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St. George's School Canterbury Road , CO2 7RU | 3out of 4 | 1,100 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| North Primary School and Nursery John Harper Street , CO1 1RP | 3out of 4 | 1,188 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester Royal Grammar School Lexden Road , CO3 3ND | 4out of 4 | 1,379 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| St Helena School Sheepen Road , CO3 3LE | 3out of 4 | 1,491 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Benedict's Catholic College Norman Way , CO3 3US | 3out of 4 | 2,279 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester County High School for Girls Norman Way , CO3 3US | 4out of 4 | 2,279 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Thomas Lord Audley School Monkwick Avenue , Monkwick CO2 8NJ | 3out of 4 | 2,392 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | 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 | 834 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Institute Sheepen Road , CO3 3LL | - not rated | 1,384 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 | 1,133 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oxford House School 2 Lexden Road , CO3 3NE | - not rated | 1,315 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingswode Hoe School Sussex Road , CO3 3QJ | 3out of 4 | 1,825 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's School for Girls 91 Lexden Road , CO3 3RB | - not rated | 1,995 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| North East Essex Co-operative Academy Turner Road , Mile End CO4 5LB | 3out of 4 | 3,060 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corinthian Curzon | Colchester Curzon Cinema, 19 Queen Street | 221 yd | |
| Dice & A Slice | Dice and A Slice, 37 Queen Street | 237 yd | |
| The Commons Community Kitchen & Caf? | The Commons Community Kitchen & Caf?, 74 High Street | 247 yd | |
| Miseria & Nobilta | Miseria & Noilta, 11 Queen Street | 248 yd | |
| Pepe's | Pepes, 47 St Botolphs Street | 254 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Street Brewhouse | 7 Queen Street, Colchester | 257 yd | |
| Fashion Cafe Bar | 2 St Botolphs Street, Colchester | 272 yd | |
| The Silk Road | 4 St Botolphs Street, Colchester | 278 yd | |
| Roberts Club | 18 Vineyard Street, Colchester | 320 yd | |
| The Castle Inn Public House | 92 High Street, Colchester | 342 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen 181 | 181 Magdalen Street, Colchester | 238 yd | |
| Perfect Grill - Kebab & Pizza House | 33 Queen Street, Colchester | 239 yd | |
| Crystal Restaurant | 49 St Botolphs Street, Colchester | 253 yd | |
| Santorini greek food | AMARIS.ILIANA LIMITED, 40A St Botolphs Street | 259 yd | |
| Southern Fried Chicken | 37A St Botolphs Street, Colchester | 262 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's | Sainsburys Supermarket, 11-14 Priory Walk | 295 yd | |
| Aldi Supermarket | Magdalen Street, Colchester | 539 yd | |
| Iceland Foods Plc | Iceland Foods Limited 25-26 St Johns Walk, St Johns Street | 646 yd | |
| East of England Co-op | 90 Wimpole Road, Colchester | 727 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Gym (Colchester) 20-28 20-28 QUEEN STREET | health and fitness suite | 272 yd |
| The Colchester Officers' Club ST. JOHNS GREEN | tennis courts | 477 yd |
| St James C Of E Primary School GUILDFORD ROAD | grass pitches | 521 yd |
| House Of Gain - Strength Gym BROOK STREET BUSINESS CENTRE BROOK STREET BUSINESS CENTRE BROOK STREET | health and fitness suite | 633 yd |
| Colchester And East Essex Cricket Club Catchpool Road | grass pitches | 820 yd |
| Arena Sports & Leisure Club (Closed) Circular Road East | health and fitness suite | 858 yd |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester NORTH HILL | artificial grass pitch, health and fitness suite | 975 yd |
| Paxmans Athletic & Social Club (Closed) Hythe Hill | grass pitches | 1,013 yd |
| St George'S New Town Junior School CANTERBURY ROAD | grass pitches | 1,018 yd |
| Colchester Leisure World COWDRAY AVENUE | artificial grass pitch, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool | 1,051 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 | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 93.3% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 93.3% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 93.3% |
| 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 | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 68 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 110 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 12 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.