AREA DECISION REPORT

Epping Forest area decision report

Proceed with trade-off checks

Median affordability sits at 11.3x in 2025, which reads as high-cost. Gigabit availability is 88.2% with median download at Unavailable. 4G strong coverage reaches 99.8% and 5G reaches 68.2% in the current area summary. Nearby planning activity is quiet in the current area radius. 3 featured postcodes are ready for deeper due-diligence follow-up.

Live across price, affordability, connectivity, planning, and postcode follow-upSold prices through 20 Feb 2026 · Affordability year 2025 · Broadband source year 2024 · Mobile source year 2025
Affordability: High-cost at 11.3xSchools: 22 nearby school rowsBroadband: Gigabit 88.2%Mobile: 4G 99.8% · 5G 68.2%Planning: No nearby planning
  • Median sold price, last 5 years £500,000Based on 10,226 sales · Latest sale in data: 20 Feb 2026
  • Affordability High-costMedian ratio 11.3x in 2025
  • Gigabit availability 88.2%Ofcom source year 2024
  • 4G strong coverage 99.8%Area-level mobile source year 2025
  • Nearby planning QuietCurrent applications plus recent decisions linked to the area radius

Area summary

Use this summary to decide whether this shortlist survives, then move into postcode-level due diligence where the evidence looks strongest.

Affordability and price

High-cost at 11.3x

Median house-price-to-earnings ratio is 11.3x in 2025, with a median house price of £515,000 and residence earnings of £45,618.

Broadband

Gigabit 88.2%

Gigabit availability is 88.2%, with median download at Unavailable and below-USO share at 0.1%.

Mobile

4G 99.8% · 5G 68.2%

4G strong-coverage share is 99.8%, with 5G at 68.2% in the current area-level summary.

Planning watch

No nearby matches

No nearby planning rows matched Epping Forest in the current live coverage yet.

Schools

22 nearby school rows

22 nearby school rows matched postcode area IG10 3GS for Epping Forest. Use the schools flow to compare them in more detail.

Transport

777 mapped stops

Epping Forest currently links 777 mapped transport stops, including 746 local bus or tram access points and 2 rail or metro stops. Where NaPTAN status is present, 663 stops are marked active and 114 inactive. Top localities include Waltham Abbey (99), Loughton (94), Debden (53).

Local business

Score 100/100

Epping Forest currently links 432 mapped local businesses across 8 tracked categories. Top amenity groups include 164 food and drink, 66 nightlife, 65 personal services. The current amenity availability signal scores 100/100.

Postcode follow-up

3 featured postcodes

3 featured postcodes are ready for deeper due-diligence follow-up under Epping Forest.

Crime

Latest month 749

Epping Forest recorded 749 crimes in Feb 2026. Rolling twelve month context shows 9,307, with no comparable prior twelve month baseline yet and violence and sexual offences as the top recorded type. Essex Police contributes the largest matched force share in the latest month.

Local business

This area-level OSM snapshot shows the amenity mix currently mapped around Epping Forest, so you can judge everyday convenience before you spend more time on postcode-level checks.

Amenity availability

Convenience score 100/100

Basis: nearest matching geography. Area local-business counts use postcode tags first and nearest-postcode fallback when the OSM record has no usable postcode tag.

Amenity group

Food and drink

164 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by restaurant (68), cafe (60), fast food (36).

Amenity group

Nightlife

66 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by pub (63), bar (3).

Amenity group

Personal services

65 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by hairdresser (39), beauty (26).

Amenity group

Grocery

51 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by convenience (28), supermarket (14), bakery (5).

Compare against another area

Keep at least one alternative area in view while you weigh cost, connectivity, planning pressure, and postcode follow-up coverage.

Featured area

Birmingham

Birmingham has 64,699 recorded sales with a median sold price of £220,000.

Open area research

Featured area

Leeds

Leeds has 62,603 recorded sales with a median sold price of £222,000.

Open area research

Featured area

North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire has 62,345 recorded sales with a median sold price of £260,000.

Open area research

Postcodes worth checking next

These are the best current postcode follow-up routes from the live area brief, so use them to move from early shortlist thinking into deeper due diligence.

Featured postcode

IG10 3GS

IG10 3GS has 73 recorded sales with a median sold price of £369,000.

Open postcode research

Featured postcode

IG10 3QN

IG10 3QN has 70 recorded sales with a median sold price of £401,000.

Open postcode research

Featured postcode

EN9 1FQ

EN9 1FQ has 68 recorded sales with a median sold price of £271,508.

Open postcode research

School comparison

Compare nearby schools

Open side-by-side school comparison for Epping Forest before you shortlist homes.

Open school comparison

Recommended tool

Check sold prices

Use the sold price comparator to pressure-test what local sales mean for your budget.

Open sold price comparator

Recommended tool

Check affordability

Use the affordability checker to see whether Epping Forest still fits your income and deposit.

Open affordability checker

Recommended tool

Check planning nearby

Open planning watch for a faster view of live nearby applications and recent decisions.

Open planning watch

Recommended guide

Read area guides

Open move guides that help you compare neighbourhoods, trade-offs, and local risks.

Browse area guides

Recommended guide

Use area planners and templates

Open planners and templates like the area comparison sheet, school visit checklist, and before you move checklist while you narrow your shortlist.

Open planners and templates

Follow up action

Ask vetted agents

We can route your enquiry to vetted partner estate agents covering Epping Forest.