Bourne End vs Chesham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Chesham offers lower property prices by roughly 60%. Bourne End has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bourne End edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bourne End
£814,616
Chesham
£509,520
Crime Rate
Bourne End
59.3
Chesham
59.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bourne End
100.0%
Chesham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bourne End
397.3
Chesham
395.3
EPC Rating
Bourne End
71
Chesham
70.8
Median Income
Bourne End
£36,571
Chesham
£34,004
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Chesham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £509,520 versus £814,616 in Bourne End. The most affordable entry point in Bourne End is a flat at £342,075, while in Chesham it is a flat at £242,071.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 41% pricier in Bourne End (£342,075 vs £242,071).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bourne End prices grew faster — 51% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bourne End (59.3 per 1,000) compared to Chesham (59.3 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Bourne End 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 South EastSchool quality favours Bourne End: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Chesham.
Bourne End School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 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 | Bourne End | Chesham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 8 |
| Primary | 1 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bourne End enjoy 397.3 Mbps on average, while Chesham lags behind at 395.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99% of premises in Bourne End and 94.8% in Chesham. Gigabit availability stands at 67.8% in Bourne End and 75.5% in Chesham.
Bourne End is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (397 vs 395 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bourne End is band C (score 71), ahead of Chesham's band C (score 70.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,240 in Bourne End and £1,176 in Chesham. 66.5% of homes in Bourne End 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 66.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bourne End has a population of 6,852 while Chesham has 23,691. Median household income is £36,570.5 in Bourne End and £34,004 in Chesham. The median age is 43.5 in Bourne End and 43 in Chesham. Employment rates stand at 61.7% in Bourne End and 62% in Chesham.
| Indicator | Bourne End | Chesham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,852 | 23,691 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £36,570.5 | £34,004 |
| Employment Rate | 61.7% | 62% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.1% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43% | 39.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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