Borehamwood vs Chesham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Chesham is about 11% cheaper on average. Chesham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chesham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Borehamwood
£565,322
Chesham
£509,520
Crime Rate
Borehamwood
75.6
Chesham
59.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Borehamwood
88.9%
Chesham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Borehamwood
403.4
Chesham
395.3
EPC Rating
Borehamwood
71.4
Chesham
70.8
Median Income
Borehamwood
£36,651
Chesham
£34,004
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Chesham is £509,520, which is 11% less than Borehamwood at £565,322. The most affordable entry point in Borehamwood is a flat at £303,945, while in Chesham it is a flat at £242,071.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 26% pricier in Borehamwood (£1,169,236 vs £927,685).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chesham prices grew faster — 28% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 59.3 offences per 1,000 people, Chesham is the safer of the two – 27% lower than Borehamwood's 75.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Borehamwood is violent-crime, while in Chesham 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 EnglandChesham has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 88.9% in Borehamwood. Borehamwood has 14 schools in total, while Chesham has 8.
Borehamwood School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chesham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Borehamwood | Chesham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 8 |
| Primary | 11 | 6 |
| Secondary | 3 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Borehamwood offers faster average downloads at 403.4 Mbps, compared to 395.3 Mbps in Chesham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Borehamwood and 94.8% in Chesham. Gigabit availability stands at 74.4% in Borehamwood and 75.5% in Chesham.
Borehamwood is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (403 vs 395 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Borehamwood are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.8 (band C) in Chesham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,118 in Borehamwood and £1,176 in Chesham. 67.7% of homes in Borehamwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.4% in Chesham.
Chesham has more energy-efficient housing — 68.4% reach band C or above, vs 67.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,651 in Borehamwood and £34,004 in Chesham. The median age is 41.5 in Borehamwood and 43 in Chesham. Employment rates stand at 60.7% in Borehamwood and 62% in Chesham. Owner-occupancy is 58.5% in Borehamwood versus 67% in Chesham.
| Indicator | Borehamwood | Chesham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,760 | 23,691 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £36,651 | £34,004 |
| Employment Rate | 60.7% | 62% |
| Owner Occupied | 58.5% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44.3% | 39.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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