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Compare local authorities · East of England and East of England

Chelmsford and Colchester

188,328 and 199,730 residents (mid-2024).

Chelmsford is higher than Colchester on 5 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 5 of 22 per resident and 4 of 22 in total.

On 1 of 22 measures, which area is higher depends on whether you count per person or in total. Choose a way of counting below to see each one.

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Chelmsford and Colchester on a map of the local authorities of Great Britain
How to count
Prices

Money in 2026-27 prices, adjusted for inflation so that years can be compared2026-27 prices, using CPI inflation, adjusted for inflation so that years can be comparedcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.

Per person in the age group

Chelmsford is higher on 5 of 22 measures, and Colchester on 17. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Chelmsford Colchester

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Chelmsford £3,860, Colchester £4,006Colchester: £4,006Chelmsford: £3,860Colchester: £4,023Chelmsford: £3,877Colchester: £3,800Chelmsford: £3,662

    £3,860£3,877£3,662Colchester is higher£4,006£4,023£3,800

  2. Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Chelmsford £12,922, Colchester £12,836Colchester: £12,836Chelmsford: £12,922Colchester: £12,891Chelmsford: £12,977Colchester: £12,175Chelmsford: £12,257

    £12,922£12,977£12,257Chelmsford is higher£12,836£12,891£12,175

  3. Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford £1,439, Colchester £1,742Colchester: £1,742Chelmsford: £1,439Colchester: £1,750Chelmsford: £1,445Colchester: £1,653Chelmsford: £1,365

    £1,439£1,445£1,365Colchester is higher£1,742£1,750£1,653

  4. State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Chelmsford £12,018, Colchester £11,610Colchester: £11,610Chelmsford: £12,018Colchester: £11,659Chelmsford: £12,069Colchester: £11,013Chelmsford: £11,399

    £12,018£12,069£11,399Chelmsford is higher£11,610£11,659£11,013

  5. Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Chelmsford £298, Colchester £390Colchester: £390Chelmsford: £298Colchester: £391Chelmsford: £300Colchester: £370Chelmsford: £283

    £298£300£283Colchester is higher£390£391£370

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per person aged 66 and over: Chelmsford £589, Colchester £815Colchester: £815Chelmsford: £589Colchester: £818Chelmsford: £591Colchester: £773Chelmsford: £559

    £589£591£559Colchester is higher£815£818£773

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per person aged 66 and over: Chelmsford £17, Colchester £22Colchester: £22Chelmsford: £17Colchester: £22Chelmsford: £17Colchester: £20Chelmsford: £16

    £17£17£16Colchester is higher£22£22£20

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £288, Colchester £364Colchester: £364Chelmsford: £288Colchester: £366Chelmsford: £289Colchester: £345Chelmsford: £273

    £288£289£273Colchester is higher£364£366£345

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £113, Colchester £153Colchester: £153Chelmsford: £113Colchester: £153Chelmsford: £114Colchester: £145Chelmsford: £108

    £113£114£108Colchester is higher£153£153£145

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per person aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford £79, Colchester £97Colchester: £97Chelmsford: £79Colchester: £98Chelmsford: £80Colchester: £92Chelmsford: £75

    £79£80£75Colchester is higher£97£98£92

  11. Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford £1,154, Colchester £1,388Colchester: £1,388Chelmsford: £1,154Colchester: £1,394Chelmsford: £1,159Colchester: £1,317Chelmsford: £1,095

    £1,154£1,159£1,095Colchester is higher£1,388£1,394£1,317

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Chelmsford £197, Colchester £190Colchester: £190Chelmsford: £197Colchester: £191Chelmsford: £198Colchester: £180Chelmsford: £187

    £197£198£187Chelmsford is higherDepends on how you count£190£191£180

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford £193, Colchester £243Colchester: £243Chelmsford: £193Colchester: £244Chelmsford: £193Colchester: £231Chelmsford: £183

    £193£193£183Colchester is higher£243£244£231

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford £7.88, Colchester £7.93Colchester: £7.93Chelmsford: £7.88Colchester: £7.96Chelmsford: £7.91Colchester: £7.52Chelmsford: £7.47

    £7.88£7.91£7.47Colchester is higher£7.93£7.96£7.52

  15. Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford £4.62, Colchester £5.75Colchester: £5.75Chelmsford: £4.62Colchester: £5.77Chelmsford: £4.64Colchester: £5.45Chelmsford: £4.38

    £4.62£4.64£4.38Colchester is higher£5.75£5.77£5.45

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Chelmsford £6.63, Colchester £3.77Colchester: £3.77Chelmsford: £6.63Colchester: £3.79Chelmsford: £6.66Colchester: £3.58Chelmsford: £6.29

    £6.63£6.66£6.29Chelmsford is higher£3.77£3.79£3.58

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Chelmsford 1,019.2, Colchester 1,005.5Colchester: 1,005.5Chelmsford: 1,019.2

    1,019.2Chelmsford is higher1,005.5

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Chelmsford 68.6, Colchester 87.4Colchester: 87.4Chelmsford: 68.6

    68.6Colchester is higher87.4

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Chelmsford 127.5, Colchester 165.9Colchester: 165.9Chelmsford: 127.5

    127.5Colchester is higher165.9

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 45.3, Colchester 57.0Colchester: 57.0Chelmsford: 45.3

    45.3Colchester is higher57.0

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford 127.2, Colchester 158.6Colchester: 158.6Chelmsford: 127.2

    127.2Colchester is higher158.6

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Chelmsford 17.8, Colchester 21.7Colchester: 21.7Chelmsford: 17.8

    17.8Colchester is higher21.7

Show the numbers
Chelmsford and Colchester, per person in the age group
MeasureChelmsfordColchesterHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,860£3,877£3,662£4,006£4,023£3,800Colchester
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,922£12,977£12,257£12,836£12,891£12,175Chelmsford
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,439£1,445£1,365£1,742£1,750£1,653Colchester
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,018£12,069£11,399£11,610£11,659£11,013Chelmsford
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£298£300£283£390£391£370Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£589£591£559£815£818£773Colchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£17£17£16£22£22£20Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£288£289£273£364£366£345Colchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£114£108£153£153£145Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£79£80£75£97£98£92Colchester
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,154£1,159£1,095£1,388£1,394£1,317Colchester
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£197£198£187£190£191£180Chelmsford
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£193£193£183£243£244£231Colchester
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£7.88£7.91£7.47£7.93£7.96£7.52Colchester
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.62£4.64£4.38£5.75£5.77£5.45Colchester
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.63£6.66£6.29£3.77£3.79£3.58Chelmsford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,019.21,005.5Chelmsford
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202668.687.4Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026127.5165.9Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202645.357.0Colchester
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026127.2158.6Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202617.821.7Colchester

Per resident

Chelmsford is higher on 5 of 22 measures, and Colchester on 17. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Chelmsford Colchester

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Chelmsford £3,860, Colchester £4,006Colchester: £4,006Chelmsford: £3,860Colchester: £4,023Chelmsford: £3,877Colchester: £3,800Chelmsford: £3,662

    £3,860£3,877£3,662Colchester is higher£4,006£4,023£3,800

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Chelmsford £2,365, Colchester £2,198Colchester: £2,198Chelmsford: £2,365Colchester: £2,208Chelmsford: £2,375Colchester: £2,085Chelmsford: £2,243

    £2,365£2,375£2,243Chelmsford is higher£2,198£2,208£2,085

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Chelmsford £890, Colchester £1,097Colchester: £1,097Chelmsford: £890Colchester: £1,102Chelmsford: £894Colchester: £1,041Chelmsford: £845

    £890£894£845Colchester is higher£1,097£1,102£1,041

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Chelmsford £2,199, Colchester £1,988Colchester: £1,988Chelmsford: £2,199Colchester: £1,997Chelmsford: £2,209Colchester: £1,886Chelmsford: £2,086

    £2,199£2,209£2,086Chelmsford is higher£1,988£1,997£1,886

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Chelmsford £55, Colchester £67Colchester: £67Chelmsford: £55Colchester: £67Chelmsford: £55Colchester: £63Chelmsford: £52

    £55£55£52Colchester is higher£67£67£63

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £108, Colchester £139Colchester: £139Chelmsford: £108Colchester: £140Chelmsford: £108Colchester: £132Chelmsford: £102

    £108£108£102Colchester is higher£139£140£132

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £3.17, Colchester £3.70Colchester: £3.70Chelmsford: £3.17Colchester: £3.72Chelmsford: £3.19Colchester: £3.51Chelmsford: £3.01

    £3.17£3.19£3.01Colchester is higher£3.70£3.72£3.51

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £288, Colchester £364Colchester: £364Chelmsford: £288Colchester: £366Chelmsford: £289Colchester: £345Chelmsford: £273

    £288£289£273Colchester is higher£364£366£345

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £113, Colchester £153Colchester: £153Chelmsford: £113Colchester: £153Chelmsford: £114Colchester: £145Chelmsford: £108

    £113£114£108Colchester is higher£153£153£145

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Chelmsford £49, Colchester £61Colchester: £61Chelmsford: £49Colchester: £61Chelmsford: £49Colchester: £58Chelmsford: £47

    £49£49£47Colchester is higher£61£61£58

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Chelmsford £714, Colchester £874Colchester: £874Chelmsford: £714Colchester: £878Chelmsford: £717Colchester: £829Chelmsford: £678

    £714£717£678Colchester is higher£874£878£829

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Chelmsford £197, Colchester £190Colchester: £190Chelmsford: £197Colchester: £191Chelmsford: £198Colchester: £180Chelmsford: £187

    £197£198£187Chelmsford is higherDepends on how you count£190£191£180

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Chelmsford £119, Colchester £153Colchester: £153Chelmsford: £119Colchester: £154Chelmsford: £120Colchester: £145Chelmsford: £113

    £119£120£113Colchester is higher£153£154£145

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Chelmsford £4.87, Colchester £4.99Colchester: £4.99Chelmsford: £4.87Colchester: £5.01Chelmsford: £4.89Colchester: £4.73Chelmsford: £4.62

    £4.87£4.89£4.62Colchester is higher£4.99£5.01£4.73

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Chelmsford £2.86, Colchester £3.62Colchester: £3.62Chelmsford: £2.86Colchester: £3.63Chelmsford: £2.87Colchester: £3.43Chelmsford: £2.71

    £2.86£2.87£2.71Colchester is higher£3.62£3.63£3.43

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Chelmsford £6.63, Colchester £3.77Colchester: £3.77Chelmsford: £6.63Colchester: £3.79Chelmsford: £6.66Colchester: £3.58Chelmsford: £6.29

    £6.63£6.66£6.29Chelmsford is higher£3.77£3.79£3.58

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 186.5, Colchester 172.2Colchester: 172.2Chelmsford: 186.5

    186.5Chelmsford is higher172.2

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 12.6, Colchester 15.0Colchester: 15.0Chelmsford: 12.6

    12.6Colchester is higher15.0

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 23.3, Colchester 28.4Colchester: 28.4Chelmsford: 23.3

    23.3Colchester is higher28.4

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 45.3, Colchester 57.0Colchester: 57.0Chelmsford: 45.3

    45.3Colchester is higher57.0

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 78.7, Colchester 99.9Colchester: 99.9Chelmsford: 78.7

    78.7Colchester is higher99.9

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Chelmsford 11.0, Colchester 13.7Colchester: 13.7Chelmsford: 11.0

    11.0Colchester is higher13.7

Show the numbers
Chelmsford and Colchester, per resident
MeasureChelmsfordColchesterHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,860£3,877£3,662£4,006£4,023£3,800Colchester
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,365£2,375£2,243£2,198£2,208£2,085Chelmsford
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£890£894£845£1,097£1,102£1,041Colchester
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,199£2,209£2,086£1,988£1,997£1,886Chelmsford
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£55£55£52£67£67£63Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£108£108£102£139£140£132Colchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.17£3.19£3.01£3.70£3.72£3.51Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£288£289£273£364£366£345Colchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£114£108£153£153£145Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£49£49£47£61£61£58Colchester
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£714£717£678£874£878£829Colchester
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£197£198£187£190£191£180Chelmsford
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£119£120£113£153£154£145Colchester
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£4.87£4.89£4.62£4.99£5.01£4.73Colchester
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.86£2.87£2.71£3.62£3.63£3.43Colchester
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.63£6.66£6.29£3.77£3.79£3.58Chelmsford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026186.5172.2Chelmsford
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202612.615.0Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202623.328.4Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202645.357.0Colchester
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 202678.799.9Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.013.7Colchester

Total

Chelmsford is higher on 4 of 22 measures, and Colchester on 18. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Chelmsford Colchester

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Chelmsford £727.0m, Colchester £800.1mColchester: £800.1mChelmsford: £727.0mColchester: £803.5mChelmsford: £730.1mColchester: £758.9mChelmsford: £689.6m

    £727.0m£730.1m£689.6mColchester is higher£800.1m£803.5m£758.9m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Chelmsford £445.4m, Colchester £439.1mColchester: £439.1mChelmsford: £445.4mColchester: £440.9mChelmsford: £447.3mColchester: £416.5mChelmsford: £422.5m

    £445.4m£447.3m£422.5mChelmsford is higher£439.1m£440.9m£416.5m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Chelmsford £167.7m, Colchester £219.1mColchester: £219.1mChelmsford: £167.7mColchester: £220.1mChelmsford: £168.4mColchester: £207.9mChelmsford: £159.1m

    £167.7m£168.4m£159.1mColchester is higher£219.1m£220.1m£207.9m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Chelmsford £414.2m, Colchester £397.1mColchester: £397.1mChelmsford: £414.2mColchester: £398.8mChelmsford: £416.0mColchester: £376.7mChelmsford: £392.9m

    £414.2m£416.0m£392.9mChelmsford is higher£397.1m£398.8m£376.7m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Chelmsford £10.3m, Colchester £13.3mColchester: £13.3mChelmsford: £10.3mColchester: £13.4mChelmsford: £10.3mColchester: £12.6mChelmsford: £9.8m

    £10.3m£10.3m£9.8mColchester is higher£13.3m£13.4m£12.6m

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Chelmsford £20.3m, Colchester £27.9mColchester: £27.9mChelmsford: £20.3mColchester: £28.0mChelmsford: £20.4mColchester: £26.4mChelmsford: £19.3m

    £20.3m£20.4m£19.3mColchester is higher£27.9m£28.0m£26.4m

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Chelmsford £0.60m, Colchester £0.74mColchester: £0.74mChelmsford: £0.60mColchester: £0.74mChelmsford: £0.60mColchester: £0.70mChelmsford: £0.57m

    £0.60m£0.60m£0.57mColchester is higher£0.74m£0.74m£0.70m

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Chelmsford £54.2m, Colchester £72.7mColchester: £72.7mChelmsford: £54.2mColchester: £73.0mChelmsford: £54.5mColchester: £69.0mChelmsford: £51.4m

    £54.2m£54.5m£51.4mColchester is higher£72.7m£73.0m£69.0m

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Chelmsford £21.4m, Colchester £30.5mColchester: £30.5mChelmsford: £21.4mColchester: £30.6mChelmsford: £21.5mColchester: £28.9mChelmsford: £20.3m

    £21.4m£21.5m£20.3mColchester is higher£30.5m£30.6m£28.9m

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Chelmsford £9.3m, Colchester £12.2mColchester: £12.2mChelmsford: £9.3mColchester: £12.3mChelmsford: £9.3mColchester: £11.6mChelmsford: £8.8m

    £9.3m£9.3m£8.8mColchester is higher£12.2m£12.3m£11.6m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Chelmsford £134.5m, Colchester £174.6mColchester: £174.6mChelmsford: £134.5mColchester: £175.4mChelmsford: £135.1mColchester: £165.6mChelmsford: £127.6m

    £134.5m£135.1m£127.6mColchester is higher£174.6m£175.4m£165.6m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Chelmsford £37.1m, Colchester £37.9mColchester: £37.9mChelmsford: £37.1mColchester: £38.1mChelmsford: £37.3mColchester: £36.0mChelmsford: £35.2m

    £37.1m£37.3m£35.2mColchester is higherDepends on how you count£37.9m£38.1m£36.0m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Chelmsford £22.4m, Colchester £30.6mColchester: £30.6mChelmsford: £22.4mColchester: £30.7mChelmsford: £22.5mColchester: £29.0mChelmsford: £21.3m

    £22.4m£22.5m£21.3mColchester is higher£30.6m£30.7m£29.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Chelmsford £0.92m, Colchester £1.00mColchester: £1.00mChelmsford: £0.92mColchester: £1.0mChelmsford: £0.92mColchester: £0.95mChelmsford: £0.87m

    £0.92m£0.92m£0.87mColchester is higher£1.00m£1.0m£0.95m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Chelmsford £0.54m, Colchester £0.72mColchester: £0.72mChelmsford: £0.54mColchester: £0.73mChelmsford: £0.54mColchester: £0.69mChelmsford: £0.51m

    £0.54m£0.54m£0.51mColchester is higher£0.72m£0.73m£0.69m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Chelmsford £1.2m, Colchester £0.75mColchester: £0.75mChelmsford: £1.2mColchester: £0.76mChelmsford: £1.3mColchester: £0.72mChelmsford: £1.2m

    £1.2m£1.3m£1.2mChelmsford is higher£0.75m£0.76m£0.72m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Chelmsford 35,127, Colchester 34,395Colchester: 34,395Chelmsford: 35,127

    35,127Chelmsford is higher34,395

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Chelmsford 2,363, Colchester 2,989Colchester: 2,989Chelmsford: 2,363

    2,363Colchester is higher2,989

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Chelmsford 4,394, Colchester 5,675Colchester: 5,675Chelmsford: 4,394

    4,394Colchester is higher5,675

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Chelmsford 8,538, Colchester 11,389Colchester: 11,389Chelmsford: 8,538

    8,538Colchester is higher11,389

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Chelmsford 14,827, Colchester 19,955Colchester: 19,955Chelmsford: 14,827

    14,827Colchester is higher19,955

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Chelmsford 2,074, Colchester 2,735Colchester: 2,735Chelmsford: 2,074

    2,074Colchester is higher2,735

Show the numbers
Chelmsford and Colchester, total
MeasureChelmsfordColchesterHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£727.0m£730.1m£689.6m£800.1m£803.5m£758.9mColchester
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£445.4m£447.3m£422.5m£439.1m£440.9m£416.5mChelmsford
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£167.7m£168.4m£159.1m£219.1m£220.1m£207.9mColchester
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£414.2m£416.0m£392.9m£397.1m£398.8m£376.7mChelmsford
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£10.3m£10.3m£9.8m£13.3m£13.4m£12.6mColchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.3m£20.4m£19.3m£27.9m£28.0m£26.4mColchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.60m£0.60m£0.57m£0.74m£0.74m£0.70mColchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£54.2m£54.5m£51.4m£72.7m£73.0m£69.0mColchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£21.4m£21.5m£20.3m£30.5m£30.6m£28.9mColchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.3m£9.3m£8.8m£12.2m£12.3m£11.6mColchester
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£134.5m£135.1m£127.6m£174.6m£175.4m£165.6mColchester
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£37.1m£37.3m£35.2m£37.9m£38.1m£36.0mColchester
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£22.4m£22.5m£21.3m£30.6m£30.7m£29.0mColchester
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.92m£0.92m£0.87m£1.00m£1.0m£0.95mColchester
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.54m£0.54m£0.51m£0.72m£0.73m£0.69mColchester
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.2m£1.3m£1.2m£0.75m£0.76m£0.72mChelmsford
State Pensiontotal, March 202635,12734,395Chelmsford
Pension Credittotal, March 20262,3632,989Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20264,3945,675Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20268,53811,389Colchester
Universal Credittotal, May 202614,82719,955Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,0742,735Colchester

Sources

Each area's page lists the limits of its figures and where each one comes from.

  1. 1Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by local authority, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  2. 2Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by parliamentary constituency, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  3. 3Department for Work and Pensions. Stat-Xplore benefit caseloads and awards. Published 6 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  4. 4Social Security Scotland. Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  5. 5Social Security Scotland. Child Disability Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 17 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  6. 6Social Security Scotland. Pension Age Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  7. 7Social Security Scotland. Carer Support Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 10 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  8. 8Social Security Scotland. Winter heating benefits statistics for winter 2025/26. Published 18 May 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  9. 9Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by local authority (Nomis NM_2002_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  10. 10Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by 2024 parliamentary constituency (Nomis NM_2014_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  11. 11National Records of Scotland. Population estimates for other geographies, mid-2011 to mid-2024. Published 31 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.