Calne vs Melksham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Melksham is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 2% lower. Melksham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Melksham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Calne
£324,497
Melksham
£316,592
Crime Rate
Calne
48.9
Melksham
48.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Calne
80.0%
Melksham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Calne
368.5
Melksham
328.9
EPC Rating
Calne
69.2
Melksham
69.2
Median Income
Calne
£29,209
Melksham
£29,209
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Calne commands an average of £324,497, compared with £316,592 in Melksham – a difference of 2%. The most affordable entry point in Calne is a flat at £160,196, while in Melksham it is a flat at £138,625.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Calne (£160,196 vs £138,625).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Calne prices grew faster — 29% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestMelksham has a crime rate of 48.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Calne at 48.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Calne is violent-crime, while in Melksham 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 WestFamilies may prefer Melksham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 80% in Calne. There are 6 schools in Calne and 4 in Melksham.
Calne School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Melksham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Calne | Melksham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 4 |
| Primary | 5 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 80% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 368.5 Mbps in Calne and 328.9 Mbps in Melksham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.4% of premises in Calne and 92.4% in Melksham. Gigabit availability stands at 68.8% in Calne and 60.4% in Melksham.
Calne is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (369 vs 329 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Calne, scoring 69.2 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Melksham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,297 in Calne and £1,297 in Melksham. 60.1% of homes in Calne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Melksham.
Calne has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 60.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,209 in Calne and £29,209 in Melksham. The median age is 45.5 in Calne and 45.5 in Melksham. Employment rates stand at 60.2% in Calne and 60.2% in Melksham. Owner-occupancy is 66.8% in Calne versus 66.8% in Melksham. Calne has a population of 19,725 and Melksham has 18,277.
| Indicator | Calne | Melksham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,725 | 18,277 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 45.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,209 | £29,209 |
| Employment Rate | 60.2% | 60.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.8% | 66.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.2% | 34.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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