Town comparison
Chalford vs Cheltenham
Which is better to live in? 12.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Chalford offers lower property prices by roughly 18%. Chalford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cheltenham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chalford
£365,133
Cheltenham
£443,327
Crime Rate
Chalford
50.0
Cheltenham
79.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chalford
75.0%
Cheltenham
96.3%
Avg Download Speed
Chalford
271.6
Cheltenham
467.9
EPC Rating
Chalford
67.6
Cheltenham
72.3
Median Income
Chalford
£31,220
Cheltenham
£32,548
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Chalford is £365,133, which is 18% less than Cheltenham at £443,327. The most affordable entry point in Chalford is a flat at £164,500, while in Cheltenham it is a flat at £240,625.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Cheltenham (£240,625 vs £164,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chalford prices grew faster — 51% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Chalford (50 per 1,000) compared to Cheltenham (79.2 per 1,000), a 58% difference. The most common crime category in Chalford is violent-crime, while in Cheltenham 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 WestCheltenham has 96.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 75% in Chalford. Chalford has 4 schools in total, while Cheltenham has 33.
Chalford School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cheltenham School Inspection Breakdown
96.3% of 33 schools (27 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chalford | Cheltenham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 33 |
| Primary | 3 | 27 |
| Secondary | 1 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 96.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cheltenham offers faster average downloads at 467.9 Mbps, compared to 271.6 Mbps in Chalford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.7% of premises in Chalford and 98% in Cheltenham. Gigabit availability stands at 46.4% in Chalford and 92% in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham is the faster of the two by 72% on average download speed (468 vs 272 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cheltenham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.3 (band C) versus 67.6 (band C) in Chalford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,568 in Chalford and £1,075 in Cheltenham. 53.6% of homes in Chalford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.4% in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham has more energy-efficient housing — 69.4% reach band C or above, vs 53.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,548 in Cheltenham and £31,220 in Chalford. The median age is 47.9 in Chalford and 44.6 in Cheltenham. Employment rates stand at 58.8% in Chalford and 60.1% in Cheltenham. Owner-occupancy is 68.9% in Chalford versus 67.2% in Cheltenham.
| Indicator | Chalford | Cheltenham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,665 | 115,941 |
| Median Age | 47.9 | 44.6 |
| Median Household Income | £31,220 | £32,548 |
| Employment Rate | 58.8% | 60.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.9% | 67.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 39.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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