Town comparison
Bearsted vs Chatham
Which is better to live in? 6.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Chatham is about 83% cheaper on average. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Chatham
£321,268
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Chatham
0.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Chatham
91.3%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Chatham
468.9
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Chatham
72
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Chatham
£32,388
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Chatham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £321,268 versus £588,043 in Bearsted. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Chatham it is a flat at £177,530.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 70% pricier in Bearsted (£795,686 vs £467,092).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Chatham (0.3 per 1,000), a 200% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Chatham it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastSchool quality favours Bearsted: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.3% in Chatham.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chatham School Inspection Breakdown
91.3% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Chatham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 27 |
| Primary | 3 | 20 |
| Secondary | 0 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 91.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Chatham enjoy 468.9 Mbps on average, while Bearsted lags behind at 372.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 98.8% in Chatham. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 91.6% in Chatham.
Chatham is the faster of the two by 26% on average download speed (469 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bearsted is band C (score 72), ahead of Chatham's band C (score 72). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,073 in Chatham. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.3% in Chatham.
Chatham has more energy-efficient housing — 67.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bearsted has a population of 8,349 while Chatham has 76,956. Median household income is £32,388 in Chatham and £32,367 in Bearsted. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 42.4 in Chatham. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 60.5% in Chatham.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Chatham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 76,956 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £32,388 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 60.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 29.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearsted and Chatham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bearsted or Chatham?
Is Bearsted or Chatham safer?
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