Basildon vs Chelmsford

At £352,811, Basildon undercuts Chelmsford (£467,228) by around 24% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Basildon is a flat at £189,398, while in Chelmsford it is a flat at £224,709.

Residents of Chelmsford experience less crime overall, with a rate of 69.2 per 1,000 versus 85.3 per 1,000 in Basildon. The most common crime category in Basildon is violent-crime, while in Chelmsford it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

→Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

Of the 33 schools in Basildon, 91.3% are in the top two inspection bands. In Chelmsford, which has 34 schools, the figure is 93.3%.

Broadband & Connectivity

Broadband in Basildon averages 430.5 Mbps – ahead of Chelmsford's 417.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.7% of premises in Basildon and 96.2% in Chelmsford. Gigabit availability stands at 84.1% in Basildon and 79.8% in Chelmsford.

→Basildon is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (431 vs 417 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Chelmsford leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 72.2 (C), while Basildon averages 71.5 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,033 in Basildon and £1,205 in Chelmsford. 70% of homes in Basildon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.2% in Chelmsford.

→Basildon has more energy-efficient housing — 70% reach band C or above, vs 68.2% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £34,617 in Chelmsford and £33,820 in Basildon. The median age is 41.4 in Basildon and 44 in Chelmsford. Owner-occupancy is 63.2% in Basildon versus 70.3% in Chelmsford. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Basildon and 61.5% in Chelmsford.

Location