Dedham is one of the most painterly villages in England — a beautifully preserved village on the Essex–Suffolk border in Constable Country, immortalised by John Constable in paintings that defined the English pastoral tradition. Constable attended school in Dedham; the view from the water meadows towards the church tower he painted is still almost exactly as he left it.
The Munnings Art Museum is dedicated to Sir Alfred Munnings, the celebrated painter of horses who lived here. The River Stour flows through Dedham Vale — rowing boats can be hired at the boathouse for a drift through the Constable landscape. Flatford Mill, 2 miles downstream, is where The Hay Wain was painted.
Housing & Property Prices
HM Land RegistryAverage Price
£448,000
All property types
Detached
£648,000
Average sold price
Semi-detached
£398,000
Average sold price
Terraced
£325,000
Average sold price
Flat / Maisonette
£228,000
Average sold price
Annual Change
+2.8%
vs previous year
Schools & Ofsted Ratings
OfstedOutstanding
1
schools
Good
2
schools
Requires Improvement
0
schools
Inadequate
0
schools
- Outstanding
Crime Statistics
Police.ukCrime Rate
14
per 1,000 residents
vs National Avg
Well below average
England & Wales
Most Common
Anti-social behaviour
crime category
Broadband & Connectivity
OfcomAverage Download
58 Mbps
median speed
Superfast Coverage
86%
30 Mbps+
Ultrafast Coverage
44%
100 Mbps+
Full Fibre (FTTP)
24%
premises
Health & NHS Access
NHS DigitalNearest GP Surgery
Dedham Medical Practice
0.3 miles away
NHS Trust
East Suffolk & North Essex NHS FT
responsible trust
Nearest Hospital
Colchester Hospital
8.4 miles
Environment & Green Space
DEFRA / ONSAir Quality Index
Good
annual average
Green Space
68%
of local area
Flood Risk
Low
Environment Agency
Transport & Connectivity
DfT / National RailNearest Station
Manningtree Railway Station
3.8 miles
To London
1h 00m
approx by rail
Nearest Motorway
A12
3.8 miles
Nearest Airport
Stansted Airport
38 miles
Dedham at a Glance — Area Scorecard
TownData.co.ukOverall
9.0
Excellent
Family Life
9.0
Excellent
Schools
9.0
Excellent
Transport
6.0
Good
Nightlife
4.0
Poor
Value for Money
6.0
Good
Safety
10.0
Excellent
Green Space
9.0
Excellent
Scores calculated from official data sources including ONS, Police.uk, Ofsted and Ofcom. Rated out of 10.
Who is Dedham Good For?
TownData.co.ukFamilies
✅ Great for families
Commuters
⚡ Limited transport options
Students
❌ Limited student life
Retirees
✅ Peaceful & well-served
Young Professionals
❌ Limited for young pros
First-Time Buyers
❌ High house prices
Outdoor Lovers
✅ Excellent green space
Nightlife Seekers
❌ Better options elsewhere
Things to Do & Local Attractions
VisitBritain- Constable Country & River StourThe water meadows below Dedham are the most painted landscape in England — John Constable's views defined the English pastoral tradition. Almost unchanged from the paintings.
- Munnings Art MuseumThe former home and studio of Sir Alfred Munnings — the celebrated painter of horses. Castle House contains over 200 works in a beautifully preserved Edwardian setting.
- Rowing on the StourTraditional wooden rowing boats can be hired at Dedham Boathouse for a gentle row through the Stour water meadows — the most pleasurable way to experience the Constable landscape.
- Flatford Mill & Willy Lott's Cottage2 miles downstream — the subject of The Hay Wain. National Trust-maintained, one of England's most visited heritage sites.
- Dedham Rare Breeds FarmA family farm on the Stour meadows — rare breed animals, pigs, goats, horses and birds. A wonderful hands-on experience for children.
Nearby Towns & Villages
ONS / Ordnance SurveyWeather & Climate
Met OfficeJan
5°C
Feb
5°C
Mar
8°C
Apr
10°C
May
13°C
Jun
16°C
Jul
18°C
Aug
18°C
Sep
15°C
Oct
11°C
Nov
7°C
Dec
5°C
Annual Rainfall
560mm
mm per year
Sunshine Hours
1680 hrs
per year
Warmest Month
July/Aug
avg high 21°C
Coldest Month
January
avg low 1°C
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dedham a nice place to live?
Dedham is a settlement in Essex. It has 100% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, average house prices of £448,000, and crime that is well below average the national average. Use the sections above to explore the full data profile.
What is the average house price in Dedham?
The average house price in Dedham is £448,000 according to HM Land Registry. This covers all property types. See the housing section above for a full breakdown by property type and annual price change.
Is Dedham safe to live in?
Dedham's crime rate is well below average the national average. See the crime section above for a full breakdown by category.
What are the schools like in Dedham?
100% of schools in Dedham are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. See the schools section above for a full list with individual Ofsted ratings.
How fast is broadband in Dedham?
Average broadband download speeds in Dedham are 58 Mbps according to Ofcom. See the broadband section above for superfast and full-fibre coverage figures.
Data sourced from official UK government datasets. All figures are for informational purposes only. TownData.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body.