Billericay vs Chelmsford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Chelmsford is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 26% lower. Chelmsford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chelmsford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Billericay
£588,207
Chelmsford
£467,228
Crime Rate
Billericay
85.3
Chelmsford
69.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Billericay
83.3%
Chelmsford
93.3%
Avg Download Speed
Billericay
419.2
Chelmsford
417.3
EPC Rating
Billericay
71
Chelmsford
72.2
Median Income
Billericay
£38,650
Chelmsford
£34,617
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Billericay commands an average of £588,207, compared with £467,228 in Chelmsford – a difference of 26%. The most affordable entry point in Billericay is a flat at £238,151, while in Chelmsford it is a flat at £224,709.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 23% pricier in Billericay (£806,645 vs £655,735).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Billericay prices grew faster — 32% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandChelmsford has a crime rate of 69.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 23% lower than Billericay at 85.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Billericay 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.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandFamilies may prefer Chelmsford, where 93.3% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Billericay. There are 10 schools in Billericay and 34 in Chelmsford.
Billericay School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chelmsford School Inspection Breakdown
93.3% of 34 schools (26 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Billericay | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 34 |
| Primary | 8 | 26 |
| Secondary | 2 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 93.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 419.2 Mbps in Billericay and 417.3 Mbps in Chelmsford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.9% of premises in Billericay and 96.2% in Chelmsford. Gigabit availability stands at 80.9% in Billericay and 79.8% in Chelmsford.
Billericay is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (419 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Chelmsford, scoring 72.2 on average (band C) compared to 71 (band C) in Billericay. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,108 in Billericay and £1,205 in Chelmsford. 67% of homes in Billericay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.2% in Chelmsford.
Chelmsford has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 67% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,649.5 in Billericay and £34,617 in Chelmsford. The median age is 43.2 in Billericay and 44 in Chelmsford. Employment rates stand at 60.1% in Billericay and 61.5% in Chelmsford. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Billericay versus 70.3% in Chelmsford. Billericay has a population of 34,068 and Chelmsford has 110,612.
| Indicator | Billericay | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,068 | 110,612 |
| Median Age | 43.2 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £38,649.5 | £34,617 |
| Employment Rate | 60.1% | 61.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 70.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30% | 35.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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