Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Braintree: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £12,384 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,927 a month, against £1,268 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£12,384
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,927
- Mortgage £1,496, of which £452 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,268
- Rent £1,099 plus council tax
- Median price
- £290,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £29,000
- £29,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 22.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Braintree by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £174,000 | £850 | +£213 | Buy £27,787 |
| 2 bed | £290,000 | £1,099 | +£659 | Buy £12,384 |
| 3 bed | £345,000 | £1,354 | +£733 | Buy £17,619 |
| 4+ bed | £512,500 | £1,970 | +£1,121 | Close £5,065 |
Average rent and house prices in Braintree
The ONS average private rent in Braintree is £1,213 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.0% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £341,250 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026).
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £2,027 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Braintree: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Braintree?
For a 2-bed home in Braintree, owning costs about £1,927 a month and renting about £1,268, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £12,384 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in Braintree?
The ONS average private rent in Braintree is £1,213 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £850 for 1 bed, £1,099 for 2 bed, £1,354 for 3 bed, £1,970 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.0% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Braintree?
The median price paid in Braintree is £341,250 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £290,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Braintree?
A first-time buyer paying £290,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £29,000, the cash needed on day one is about £29,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Braintree?
About 22.0: the 2-bed price is 22.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Braintree?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £27,787 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Braintree?
The lead first changes hands in year 4 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.