Priory Street is in Colchester and in Colchester district. CO1 2QE 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 2QE and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: CO1 2QB, CO1 2QL, CO1 2GP, CO1 2QU, CO1 2QN, CO1 2RP, CO1 2PF, CO1 2QW, CO1 1UF.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding CO1 2QE is primarily male, with 54.6% of the population 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 | 48.1% | 45.4% | -2.7% | 51.0% | -5.6% |
| Male | 51.9% | 54.6% | 2.7% | 49.0% | 5.6% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around CO1 2QE, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 51% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 48.7% | 51% | 2.3% | 37.9% | 13.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 32.5% | 28.8% | -3.7% | 44.2% | -15.4% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.6% | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| Separated | 3.2% | 3.8% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 1.6% |
| Divorced | 10.5% | 10.1% | -0.4% | 9.1% | 1.0% |
| Widowed | 4.4% | 4.8% | 0.4% | 6.1% | -1.3% |
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% | 50.8% | 7.3% | 48.4% | 2.4% |
| Good health | 37.6% | 33.6% | -4.0% | 33.6% | 0.0% |
| Fair health | 10.7% | 10.9% | 0.2% | 12.7% | -1.8% |
| Bad health | 3.1% | 3.4% | 0.3% | 4.0% | -0.6% |
| Very bad health | 5.2% | 1.3% | -3.9% | 1.2% | 0.1% |
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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 14.3% | 13.6% | -0.7% | 18.2% | -4.6% |
| 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% | 18.4% | 5.5% | 13.4% | 5.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.1% | 4.9% | 2.8% | 5.3% | -0.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 13.9% | 16% | 2.1% | 16.9% | -0.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 36.9% | 36.4% | -0.5% | 33.8% | 2.6% |
| Other | 6.1% | 1.5% | -4.6% | 2.8% | -1.3% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 80.7% 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% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Chinese | 2.1% | 2.5% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 1.8% |
| Indian | 0.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 0.3% |
| Pakistani | 2.1% | 0% | -2.1% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 2.7% | 3.4% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
| Black African | 2.3% | 3.8% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| Other Black | 0.6% | 0.4% | -0.2% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 0.8% | -0.2% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| White | 84% | 80.7% | -3.3% | 81.4% | -0.7% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Arab | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Other | 1% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.6% | -0.3% |
In this area, 77.8% 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% | 77.8% | -0.8% | 83.2% | -5.4% |
| European Union | 9% | 9% | 0.0% | 6.1% | 2.9% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Africa | 2.5% | 4.3% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 6.7% | 6.8% | 0.1% | 5.6% | 1.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| 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% | 76.5% | -1.7% | 83.2% | -6.7% |
| 10+ Years | 5% | 12.2% | 7.2% | 9.8% | 2.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 5.7% | 7.1% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 4.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.6% | 0.4% | -3.2% | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.4% | 3.8% | -3.6% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 75.9% | 76.7% | -0.8% |
| Ireland | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| France | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 4.2% | 0.6% | 3.6% |
| Spain | 0.8% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Lithuania | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Poland | 2.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| Romania | 0.8% | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 0.8% | 1.5% | -0.7% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| South-East Asia | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 8.9% | 13.5% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 48.1% | 37.2% | 10.9% |
| Christian | 36.3% | 46.2% | -9.9% |
| Buddhist | 3% | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Hindu | 1.3% | 1.7% | -0.4% |
| Muslim | 2.1% | 6.5% | -4.4% |
| Not answered | 9.3% | 6.0% | 3.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Priory Street was 146.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 53.0% lower than the Castle average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Priory Street has the 20th highest crime rate of 41 local areas in Castle and the 91st highest crime rate of 615 local areas in Colchester .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 56.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -28.5%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59 Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £195,000 | 2021-10-04 | £212,807 |
| 57 Priory Street, Colchester, Essex Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £248,000 | 2003-07-08 | £556,432 |
CO1 2QE area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% 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 | 85 |
| Retired | 38 |
| Part-Time Employee | 30 |
| Self-Employed | 19 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 3 |
| 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 | 176 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St James' Church of England Primary School Guildford Road , CO1 2RA | 1out of 4 | 464 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's Green Primary School St John's Green , CO2 7HE | 3out of 4 | 706 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| North Primary School and Nursery John Harper Street , CO1 1RP | 3out of 4 | 1,140 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St. George's School Canterbury Road , CO2 7RU | 3out of 4 | 1,254 yd | Community school | Yes | 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 | 1,492 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School Lexden Road , CO3 3ND | 4out of 4 | 1,512 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| St Benedict's Catholic College Norman Way , CO3 3US | 3out of 4 | 2,412 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester County High School for Girls Norman Way , CO3 3US | 4out of 4 | 2,412 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Colchester Academy Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | 3out of 4 | 2,502 yd | Academy sponsor led | 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 | 886 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Institute Sheepen Road , CO3 3LL | - not rated | 1,409 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 | 1,274 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oxford House School 2 Lexden Road , CO3 3NE | - not rated | 1,441 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingswode Hoe School Sussex Road , CO3 3QJ | 3out of 4 | 1,911 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's School for Girls 91 Lexden Road , CO3 3RB | - not rated | 2,103 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| North East Essex Co-operative Academy Turner Road , Mile End CO4 5LB | 3out of 4 | 2,904 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai 1 | 82A East Hill, Colchester | 97 yd | |
| The Commons Community Kitchen & Caf? | The Commons Community Kitchen & Caf?, 74 High Street | 232 yd | |
| Miseria & Nobilta | Miseria & Noilta, 11 Queen Street | 279 yd | |
| Corinthian Curzon | Colchester Curzon Cinema, 19 Queen Street | 280 yd | |
| Sip and Tuck | 67 High Street, Colchester | 291 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Foresters Arms | Forresters Arms, 1-2 Castle Road | 232 yd | |
| Goat & Boot | The Goat And Boot, 70 East Hill | 246 yd | |
| Queen Street Brewhouse | 7 Queen Street, Colchester | 283 yd | |
| The Castle Inn Public House | 92 High Street, Colchester | 360 yd | |
| Fashion Cafe Bar | 2 St Botolphs Street, Colchester | 419 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Hot 4 You | 22A East Hill, Colchester | 167 yd | |
| Sonali Indian Takeaway | Sonali Indian Take Away, 22 East Hill | 167 yd | |
| Perfect Grill - Kebab & Pizza House | 33 Queen Street, Colchester | 350 yd | |
| Crystal Restaurant | 49 St Botolphs Street, Colchester | 394 yd | |
| Kitchen 181 | 181 Magdalen Street, Colchester | 419 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's | Sainsburys Supermarket, 11-14 Priory Walk | 371 yd | |
| Aldi Supermarket | Magdalen Street, Colchester | 601 yd | |
| Iceland Foods Plc | Iceland Foods Limited 25-26 St Johns Walk, St Johns Street | 789 yd | |
| East of England Co-op | 90 Wimpole Road, Colchester | 796 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| St James C Of E Primary School GUILDFORD ROAD | grass pitches | 340 yd |
| The Gym (Colchester) 20-28 20-28 QUEEN STREET | health and fitness suite | 382 yd |
| House Of Gain - Strength Gym BROOK STREET BUSINESS CENTRE BROOK STREET BUSINESS CENTRE BROOK STREET | health and fitness suite | 597 yd |
| The Colchester Officers' Club ST. JOHNS GREEN | tennis courts | 668 yd |
| Colchester And East Essex Cricket Club Catchpool Road | grass pitches | 724 yd |
| Colchester Leisure World COWDRAY AVENUE | artificial grass pitch, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool | 898 yd |
| Paxmans Athletic & Social Club (Closed) Hythe Hill | grass pitches | 1,011 yd |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester NORTH HILL | artificial grass pitch, health and fitness suite | 1,024 yd |
| Arena Sports & Leisure Club (Closed) Circular Road East | health and fitness suite | 1,057 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 | 57.1% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 57.1% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 57.1% |
| 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.