Brentwood vs Chigwell
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.0 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Brentwood wins on house prices with a 1% gap. Brentwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brentwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brentwood
£611,158
Chigwell
£617,191
Crime Rate
Brentwood
64.0
Chigwell
64.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brentwood
100.0%
Chigwell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brentwood
371.6
Chigwell
433.8
EPC Rating
Brentwood
69.5
Chigwell
70.6
Median Income
Brentwood
£41,192
Chigwell
£36,572
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £611,158, Brentwood undercuts Chigwell (£617,191) by around 1% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Brentwood is a flat at £311,789, while in Chigwell it is a flat at £338,714.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 24% pricier in Chigwell (£1,338,738 vs £1,011,300).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brentwood prices grew faster — 24% vs -6%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Brentwood experience less crime overall, with a rate of 64 per 1,000 versus 64.1 per 1,000 in Chigwell. The most common crime category in Brentwood is violent-crime, while in Chigwell 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 18 schools in Brentwood, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Chigwell, which has 4 schools, the figure is 100%.
Brentwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 18 schools (13 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chigwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brentwood | Chigwell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 18 | 4 |
| Primary | 13 | 3 |
| Secondary | 5 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Chigwell averages 433.8 Mbps – ahead of Brentwood's 371.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.6% of premises in Brentwood and 97.9% in Chigwell. Gigabit availability stands at 69.9% in Brentwood and 84.6% in Chigwell.
Chigwell is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (434 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Chigwell, scoring 70.6 on average (band C) compared to 69.5 (band C) in Brentwood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,151 in Brentwood and £1,152 in Chigwell. 59.4% of homes in Brentwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63% in Chigwell.
Chigwell has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 59.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £41,192 in Brentwood and £36,572 in Chigwell. The median age is 43.6 in Brentwood and 41 in Chigwell. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Brentwood and 59.2% in Chigwell. Owner-occupancy is 70.7% in Brentwood versus 63.3% in Chigwell. Brentwood has a population of 55,339 and Chigwell has 12,251.
| Indicator | Brentwood | Chigwell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,339 | 12,251 |
| Median Age | 43.6 | 41 |
| Median Household Income | £41,192 | £36,572 |
| Employment Rate | 59.9% | 59.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.7% | 63.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 37.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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