Boreham vs Chelmsford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.1 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Boreham wins on house prices with a 18% gap. Chelmsford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Boreham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Boreham
£385,221
Chelmsford
£467,228
Crime Rate
Boreham
69.4
Chelmsford
69.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Boreham
100.0%
Chelmsford
93.3%
Avg Download Speed
Boreham
348.8
Chelmsford
417.3
EPC Rating
Boreham
71.3
Chelmsford
72.2
Median Income
Boreham
£34,276
Chelmsford
£34,617
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £385,221, Boreham undercuts Chelmsford (£467,228) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Boreham is a flat at £155,000, while in Chelmsford it is a flat at £224,709.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 31% pricier in Chelmsford (£224,709 vs £155,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Boreham prices grew faster — 23% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Chelmsford experience less crime overall, with a rate of 69.2 per 1,000 versus 69.4 per 1,000 in Boreham. The most common crime category in Boreham 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 EnglandOf the 1 schools in Boreham, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Chelmsford, which has 34 schools, the figure is 93.3%.
Boreham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) 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 | Boreham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 34 |
| Primary | 1 | 26 |
| Secondary | 0 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 93.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Chelmsford averages 417.3 Mbps – ahead of Boreham's 348.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93% of premises in Boreham and 96.2% in Chelmsford. Gigabit availability stands at 63.5% in Boreham and 79.8% in Chelmsford.
Chelmsford is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (417 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Chelmsford leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 72.2 (C), while Boreham averages 71.3 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,219 in Boreham and £1,205 in Chelmsford. 64.8% of homes in Boreham 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 64.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,617 in Chelmsford and £34,275.8 in Boreham. The median age is 45 in Boreham and 44 in Chelmsford. Owner-occupancy is 71.2% in Boreham versus 70.3% in Chelmsford. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Boreham and 61.5% in Chelmsford.
| Indicator | Boreham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,561 | 110,612 |
| Median Age | 45 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £34,275.8 | £34,617 |
| Employment Rate | 59.9% | 61.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.2% | 70.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.4% | 35.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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