Old Heath and The Hythe
Old Heath and The Hythe is one of 17 wards in Colchester, home to 12,393 people in 5,246 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £280,000 over the past two years, 14% below the Colchester median. On average 28% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 60% above the Colchester average.
People and homes.
12,393 residents in 5,246 households, next to the Colchester average.
Source: Census 2021, Office for National Statistics
Prices.
Quarterly median of standard sales in Old Heath and The Hythe and Colchester.
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, sales to 28 Aug 2026
Safety.
Police recorded 1,007 crimes and incidents in Old Heath and The Hythe in the 12 months to Aug 2026: 81 per 1,000 residents, against 99 across Colchester.
Police.uk records crimes by approximate location, not by where victims or offenders live. Busy streets, shops, stations and nightlife record more. Figures are counts, not a measure of personal risk. Rates per resident are higher wherever many people visit but few live, such as city centres.
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, Essex Police (Open Government Licence v3.0)
Food hygiene.
Food businesses in Old Heath and The Hythe with a published hygiene rating.
Council food safety officers rate businesses from 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good) for hygiene, the state of the premises and how food safety is managed. A rating reflects the standards found on the day of inspection, not the quality of the food.
Source: Food Standards Agency, food hygiene rating data as of 26 October 2026 (Open Government Licence)