Forest Road is in Colchester and in Colchester district. CO4 3RP is located in the Greenstead electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Colchester. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Forest Road, Colchester, CO4 3RP and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: CO4 3SD, CO4 3RW, CO4 3RN, CO4 3SB, CO4 3RB, CO4 3SA, CO4 3QS, CO4 3RS, CO4 3RD.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around CO4 3RP is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 48.5% | 51.8% | 3.3% | 51.0% | 0.8% |
| Male | 51.5% | 48.2% | -3.3% | 49.0% | -0.8% |
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 CO4 3RP, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 53.1% 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 | 38.1% | 53.1% | 15.0% | 37.9% | 15.2% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 26.9% | 22.2% | -4.7% | 44.2% | -22.0% |
| Separated | 2.5% | 1.5% | -1.0% | 2.2% | -0.7% |
| Divorced | 20.8% | 16.5% | -4.3% | 9.1% | 7.4% |
| Widowed | 11.7% | 6.7% | -5.0% | 6.1% | 0.6% |
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 lower percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (66.5%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either an older population or social deprivation in the area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 27.7% | 31.7% | 4.0% | 48.4% | -16.7% |
| Good health | 38.1% | 34.8% | -3.3% | 33.6% | 1.2% |
| Fair health | 25.5% | 19.6% | -5.9% | 12.7% | 6.9% |
| Bad health | 5.6% | 11.6% | 6.0% | 4.0% | 7.6% |
| Very bad health | 3% | 2.2% | -0.8% | 1.2% | 1.0% |
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 CO4 3RP this area, 28.4% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 13.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 41.1% | 28.4% | -12.7% | 18.2% | 10.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 16.8% | 14.9% | -1.9% | 9.6% | 5.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 15.7% | 14.9% | -0.8% | 13.4% | 1.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 5.7% | 2.7% | 5.3% | 0.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 7.1% | 18.6% | 11.5% | 16.9% | 1.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 9.1% | 13.4% | 4.3% | 33.8% | -20.4% |
| Other | 7.1% | 4.1% | -3.0% | 2.8% | 1.3% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 85.5% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 3.1% | -2.7% |
| Black African | 0% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| Other Black | 0.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.4% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 0.9% | 2.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 98.3% | 85.5% | -12.8% | 81.4% | 4.1% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Other | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.6% | 0.2% |
In this area, 87.7% 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 | 91.3% | 87.7% | -3.6% | 83.2% | 4.5% |
| European Union | 8.2% | 7.9% | -0.3% | 6.1% | 1.8% |
| Africa | 0% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.7% | -0.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 5.6% | -3.8% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 90.9% | 87.7% | -3.2% | 83.2% | 4.5% |
| 10+ Years | 1.7% | 8.8% | 7.1% | 9.8% | -1.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.3% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 2.9% | -1.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.9% | 0.4% | -3.5% | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| Less than 2 years | 2.2% | 1.3% | -0.9% | 1.9% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 53.5% | 76.7% | -23.2% |
| Poland | 7% | 1.3% | 5.7% |
| Romania | 0.4% | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| Other EU countries | 0.4% | 1.5% | -1.1% |
| Central and Western Africa | 2.2% | 0.3% | 1.9% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Southern Asia | 0.4% | 1.2% | -0.8% |
| No passport held | 34.6% | 13.5% | 21.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 48.9% | 37.2% | 11.7% |
| Christian | 41.9% | 46.2% | -4.3% |
| Hindu | 0.4% | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| Other religion | 4% | 0.6% | 3.4% |
| Not answered | 4.8% | 6.0% | -1.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Forest Road was 232.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 67.1% higher than the Greenstead average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Forest Road has the 13th highest crime rate of 79 local areas in Greenstead and the 41st highest crime rate of 615 local areas in Colchester .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 121.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -46.6%.

Households in this area have a lower level of wealth compared to the average household in England and Wales. 90% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Forest Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £300,000 | 2024-06-06 | £307,627 |
| 27 Forest Road, Colchester, Essex Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £320,000 | 2023-09-25 | £326,353 |
| 8 Forest Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £201,000 | 2019-09-16 | £233,295 |
| 24 Forest Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £235,000 | 2017-08-29 | £280,493 |
| 8 Forest Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £204,000 | 2016-07-22 | £265,777 |
| Full-Time Employee | 46 |
| Retired | 34 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 33 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 13 |
| Looking after home or family | 10 |
| Other | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 6 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 30 |
| Education | 14 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Construction | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Human health and social work activities | 6 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 2 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 2 |
| Information and communication | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Primary Academy Hickory Avenue , Greenstead CO4 3QJ | 3out of 4 | 587 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery Barnardiston Road , CO4 0DT | 3out of 4 | 770 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Hazelmere Junior School Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JP | 3out of 4 | 950 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery Hawthorn Avenue , Greenstead Estate CO4 3JP | 3out of 4 | 950 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Roach Vale Primary School Roach Vale , Parsons Heath CO4 3YN | 3out of 4 | 1,129 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester Academy Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | 3out of 4 | 889 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Helena School Sheepen Road , CO3 3LE | 3out of 4 | 3,005 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gilberd School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | 4out of 4 | 3,031 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Trinity School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | - not rated | 3,083 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School Lexden Road , CO3 3ND | 4out of 4 | 3,143 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | 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 | 2,505 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Institute Sheepen Road , CO3 3LL | - not rated | 2,975 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Essex Wivenhoe Park , CO4 3SQ | - not rated | 2,232 yd | Higher education institutions | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester High School Wellesley Road , CO3 3HD | - not rated | 2,898 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oxford House School 2 Lexden Road , CO3 3NE | - not rated | 3,075 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| North East Essex Co-operative Academy Turner Road , Mile End CO4 5LB | 3out of 4 | 3,414 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingswode Hoe School Sussex Road , CO3 3QJ | 3out of 4 | 3,540 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Village Kitchen | 4 Davey Close, Colchester | 581 yd | |
| Charlie's Bar | 24 East Street, Colchester | 975 yd | |
| Colchester Climbing Project | Unit B, 4 Moorside | 990 yd | |
| The Old Siege House Bar & Brasserie | The Old Siege House, 75 East Street | 1,064 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenstead Association Social Club | Blackthorn Avenue, Colchester | 458 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wink Lee | Wink Lee Chinese Takeaway, 197 Harwich Road | 459 yd | |
| Beijing Cantonese Take Away | 1 Greenstead Road, Colchester | 761 yd | |
| Indian Village | 319 Harwich Road, Colchester | 819 yd | |
| Food sooo Good | Food Sooo Good, 91 Hythe Hill | 902 yd | |
| Harwich Road Fish and Chips | Harwich Road Fish And Chips, 354 Harwich Road | 908 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Stop | 24-26 Hunwicke Road, Colchester | 856 yd | |
| Tesco | Tesco Express, 19A Bromley Road | 954 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Unity Academy HICKORY AVENUE | grass pitches | 439 yd |
| Colchester Academy HAWTHORN AVENUE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 801 yd |
| Hazelmere Junior School HAWTHORN AVENUE | grass pitches | 876 yd |
| Willow Brook Primary School BARNARDISTON ROAD | grass pitches | 876 yd |
| Colchester Sports And Social Ground (Closed) | grass pitches | 1,031 yd |
| Roach Vale Primary School ROACH VALE | grass pitches | 1,086 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 | 95.2% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 95.2% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 95.2% |
| 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 | 87.5 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 141.7 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.