Braintree is a town and former civil parish in Essex, England. The principal settlement of Braintree District, it is located 10 miles northeast of Chelmsford, 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Southend-on-Sea, and 15 mi (24 km) west of Colchester. According to the 2021 Census, the town had a population of 43,492, while the urban area, which includes Great Notley, Rayne, Tye Green and High Garrett, had a population of 55,792.