Caversham vs Cholsey
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Cholsey wins on house prices with a 15% gap. Cholsey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Caversham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Caversham
£504,204
Cholsey
£437,338
Crime Rate
Caversham
95.7
Cholsey
40.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Caversham
100.0%
Cholsey
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Caversham
435.8
Cholsey
350.1
EPC Rating
Caversham
71.3
Cholsey
70.9
Median Income
Caversham
£36,987
Cholsey
£38,006
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £437,338, Cholsey undercuts Caversham (£504,204) by around 15% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Caversham is a flat at £267,554, while in Cholsey it is a flat at £307,292.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 35% pricier in Caversham (£797,551 vs £592,367).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Caversham prices grew faster — 19% vs 17%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Cholsey experience less crime overall, with a rate of 40.3 per 1,000 versus 95.7 per 1,000 in Caversham. The most common crime category in Caversham is violent-crime, while in Cholsey 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 EastOf the 10 schools in Caversham, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Cholsey, which has 1 schools, the figure is 100%.
Caversham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (9 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cholsey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Caversham | Cholsey |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 1 |
| Primary | 9 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Caversham averages 435.8 Mbps – ahead of Cholsey's 350.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.8% of premises in Caversham and 95.4% in Cholsey. Gigabit availability stands at 84.7% in Caversham and 60.6% in Cholsey.
Caversham is the faster of the two by 24% on average download speed (436 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Caversham, scoring 71.3 on average (band C) compared to 70.9 (band C) in Cholsey. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,180 in Caversham and £1,343 in Cholsey. 65.7% of homes in Caversham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.2% in Cholsey.
Caversham has more energy-efficient housing — 65.7% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,006 in Cholsey and £36,987.3 in Caversham. The median age is 41.7 in Caversham and 44.8 in Cholsey. Employment rates stand at 63.1% in Caversham and 62.9% in Cholsey. Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Caversham versus 70.2% in Cholsey. Caversham has a population of 33,038 and Cholsey has 3,776.
| Indicator | Caversham | Cholsey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,038 | 3,776 |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 44.8 |
| Median Household Income | £36,987.3 | £38,006 |
| Employment Rate | 63.1% | 62.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 70.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.4% | 43.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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