Derwent Road is in Highwoods, Colchester and in Colchester district. CO4 9RU is located in the Highwoods electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Colchester. This postcode has been in use since 2002-06-01.
StreetScan combines information about Derwent Road, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9RU and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: CO4 9AB, CO4 9RH, CO4 9RL, CO4 9RR, CO4 9RB, CO4 9RG, CO4 9RP, CO4 9YT, CO4 9RZ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding CO4 9RU, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.3% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 52.9% | 52.3% | -0.6% | 51.0% | 1.3% |
| Male | 47.1% | 47.7% | 0.6% | 49.0% | -1.3% |
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 9RU, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 52.1% 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 | 43.3% | 52.1% | 8.8% | 37.9% | 14.2% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 31.7% | 28.5% | -3.2% | 44.2% | -15.7% |
| Separated | 3% | 3% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Divorced | 18.9% | 13.9% | -5.0% | 9.1% | 4.8% |
| Widowed | 3% | 2.4% | -0.6% | 6.1% | -3.7% |
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 | 39.8% | 36.7% | -3.1% | 48.4% | -11.7% |
| Good health | 35.4% | 39.2% | 3.8% | 33.6% | 5.6% |
| Fair health | 12.1% | 12.1% | 0.0% | 12.7% | -0.6% |
| Bad health | 8.3% | 8% | -0.3% | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Very bad health | 4.4% | 4% | -0.4% | 1.2% | 2.8% |
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 low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 18%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 26.8% | 22.8% | -4.0% | 18.2% | 4.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 17.7% | 16.2% | -1.5% | 9.6% | 6.6% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 18.3% | 12.6% | -5.7% | 13.4% | -0.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 7.2% | 4.2% | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.6% | 18% | 6.4% | 16.9% | 1.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 18.3% | 18% | -0.3% | 33.8% | -15.8% |
| Other | 4.3% | 5.4% | 1.1% | 2.8% | 2.6% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 86.4% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 1.9% | 3% | 1.1% | 3.1% | -0.1% |
| Other Asian | 2.4% | 2.5% | 0.1% | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| Black African | 0% | 4% | 4.0% | 2.5% | 1.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| White | 94.2% | 86.4% | -7.8% | 81.4% | 5.0% |
| Arab | 0% | 2% | 2.0% | 0.6% | 1.4% |
| Other | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.6% | -0.1% |
In this area, 84.8% 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 | 90.3% | 84.8% | -5.5% | 83.2% | 1.6% |
| European Union | 3.4% | 6.1% | 2.7% | 6.1% | 0.0% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.5% | 1% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Africa | 1% | 2% | 1.0% | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 3.4% | 5.6% | 2.2% | 5.6% | 0.0% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.5% | 0.5% | -1.0% | 1.3% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 90.3% | 84.4% | -5.9% | 83.2% | 1.2% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 7% | 7.0% | 9.8% | -2.8% |
| 5-10 Years | 1% | 6% | 5.0% | 2.9% | 3.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.9% | 1.5% | -2.4% | 2.2% | -0.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.9% | 1% | -3.9% | 1.9% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 57.6% | 76.7% | -19.1% |
| Ireland | 1.5% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Germany | 1.5% | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Italy | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| Lithuania | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Poland | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Romania | 1% | 0.9% | 0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 0.5% | 1.5% | -1.0% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Middle East | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Southern Asia | 1% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
| South-East Asia | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 31.3% | 13.5% | 17.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 46.7% | 37.2% | 9.5% |
| Christian | 40.2% | 46.2% | -6.0% |
| Buddhist | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 1.5% | 1.7% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 4.5% | 6.5% | -2.0% |
| Not answered | 6.5% | 6.0% | 0.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Derwent Road was 84.0 per 1,000 residents, which is 6.3% lower than the Highwoods average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Derwent Road has the 23rd highest crime rate of 60 local areas in Highwoods and the 206th highest crime rate of 619 local areas in Colchester .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 54.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -75.4%.

Households in this area have a slightly higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 65% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 Derwent Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £255,000 | 2025-09-16 | £258,707 |
| 94A Derwent Road, Colchester, Essex Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £300,000 | 2025-09-11 | £304,984 |
| 64 Derwent Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £248,000 | 2025-03-04 | £251,344 |
| 46 Derwent Road, Colchester, Essex Terraced, an established residential building | £175,000 | 2024-06-19 | £181,118 |
| 116 Derwent Road, Colchester, Essex Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £320,000 | 2024-02-20 | £335,777 |
| Full-Time Employee | 49 |
| Retired | 30 |
| Looking after home or family | 20 |
| Self-Employed | 18 |
| Part-Time Employee | 14 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 10 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 10 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 2 |
| Human health and social work activities | 21 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 17 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 14 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
| Other | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 5 |
| Education | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 4 |
| Construction | 3 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 1 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brinkley Grove Primary School Rawlings Crescent , Highwoods CO4 9GF | 3out of 4 | 457 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester Clay Lane Grove , CO4 0HH | 3out of 4 | 528 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Highwoods Community Primary School Tynedale Square , Highwoods CO4 9SN | 3out of 4 | 579 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Highwoods Community Primary School Tynedale Square , Highwoods CO4 9SN | - not rated | 579 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Friars Grove Junior School Upland Drive , CO4 0PZ | - not rated | 1,273 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Gilberd School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | 4out of 4 | 543 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gilberd School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | - not rated | 543 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Trinity School Carris Close , CO4 6ED | - not rated | 603 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Academy Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | 3out of 4 | 2,543 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Sir Charles Lucas Arts College Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | - not rated | 2,543 yd | Foundation school | 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 | 3,461 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester North Hill , CO1 1SN | - not rated | 3,462 yd | Academy 16-19 converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Colchester Institute Sheepen Road , CO3 3LL | - not rated | 3,548 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxley Parker School Mill Road , CO4 5JF | - not rated | 1,319 yd | Non-maintained special school | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| North East Essex Co-operative Academy Walnut Tree Way , CO2 9BS | 3out of 4 | 1,801 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| North East Essex Additional Provision School The Mile End Centre , Turner Road CO4 5LB | - not rated | 1,801 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The St Aubyn Centre Education Department St Aubyn Centre , CO4 5HG | 4out of 4 | 2,263 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's Convent School 48 Priory Street , CO1 2QB | - not rated | 3,205 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh Cafe | Unit 2, Phoenix Square | 368 yd | |
| Fitness For Less | Unit 2, Phoenix Square | 368 yd | |
| Tesco Family Dining Ltd | Tesco Family Dining Tesco Supermarket, Highwoods Square | 467 yd | |
| Cafe Plus | Unit C5 And C6, The Seedbed Centre | 909 yd | |
| Hamilton's Health & Fitness | 12 Telford Way, Colchester | 961 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC Ardleigh | Unit 1 Colonels Place, Ipswich Road | 801 yd | |
| Delish hot pot catering services | 133 Gavin Way, Colchester | 1,051 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness4Less (Colchester) UNIT 2 UNIT 2 WYNCOLLS ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 370 yd |
| Brinkley Grove Primary School RAWLINGS CRESCENT | grass pitches | 456 yd |
| St Johns C Of E Primary School CLAY LANE GROVE | grass pitches | 528 yd |
| Highwood Community Primary School TYNEDALE SQUARE | grass pitches | 578 yd |
| Crossfit Colchester HECKWORTH CLOSE | health and fitness suite | 835 yd |
| Hamilton'S Fitness Centre Telford Way | health and fitness suite | 963 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 | 64.1% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 64.1% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 64.1% |
| 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% |
| Median download speed | 77.7 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 86 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.