This is a list of settlements in Essex by population based on the results of the 2011 census. The next United Kingdom census will take place in 2021. In 2011, there were 44 built-up area subdivisions with 5,000 or more inhabitants in Essex, shown in the table below.
Population ranking
#SettlementPopulationBorough/District200120111Southend-on-Sea162,050175,547Southend-on-Sea2Colchester105,130119,441Colchester3Chelmsford100,660110,507Chelmsford4Basildon100,950107,123Basildon5Rayleigh/South Benfleet/Thundersley92,04095,580Rochford6Harlow78,89082,059Harlow7Grays54,82066,843Thurrock8Brentwood47,92052,586Brentwood9Clacton-on-Sea51,28450,548Tendring10Braintree35,62041,634Braintree11Canvey Island37,48038,170Castle Point12Billericay33,67434,274Basildon13Wickford31,48033,486Basildon14Loughton30,34031,106Epping Forest15Stanford-le-Hope30,10228,725Thurrock16Witham22,47025,353Braintree17Maldon20,73121,462Maldon18Harwich19,26019,738Tendring19South Ockendon17,67019,460Thurrock20Waltham Abbey17,94018,743Epping Forest21Rochford16,22017,739Rochford22South Woodham Ferrers16,63016,453Chelmsford23Saffron Walden14,31015,210Uttlesford24Tilbury11,46212,450Thurrock25Walton-on-the-Naze11,99312,054Tendring26Halstead11,05311,906Braintree27Chigwell9,93110,365Epping Forest28Epping9,89010,289Epping Forest29Chadwell St Mary9,4639,864Thurrock30Tiptree8,3009,182Colchester31Brightlingsea8,1468,076Tendring32Aveley7,4867,986Thurrock33Great Dunmow5,9407,749Uttlesford34Great Notley5,6607,749Braintree35Wivenhoe7,2207,637Colchester36West Mersea6,7927,057Colchester37Burnham-on-Crouch6,9736,905Maldon38Danbury6,5606,673Chelmsford39Stansted Mountfitchet5,8606,669Uttlesford40Hullbridge6,0506,097Rochford41Chipping Ongar5,9236,093Epping Forest42Manningtree5,7205,696Tendring43Great Wakering5,2485,400Rochford44Ingatestone4,9755,365Brentwood45Writtle5,0114,840Chelmsford46Jaywick4,6654,799Tendring47Coggeshall4,3274,727Braintree48Kelvedon4,5934,717Braintree49Frinton-on-Sea4,8144,687Tendring50East Tilbury4,7264,622Thurrock
References