Town comparison
Chalford vs Cirencester
Which is better to live in? 8.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Chalford offers lower property prices by roughly 30%. Cirencester has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cirencester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chalford
£365,133
Cirencester
£524,419
Crime Rate
Chalford
50.0
Cirencester
45.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chalford
75.0%
Cirencester
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chalford
271.6
Cirencester
308.4
EPC Rating
Chalford
67.6
Cirencester
69.5
Median Income
Chalford
£31,220
Cirencester
£32,467
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Chalford more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £365,133 versus £524,419 in Cirencester. The most affordable entry point in Chalford is a flat at £164,500, while in Cirencester it is a flat at £230,228.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 37% pricier in Cirencester (£840,055 vs £530,292).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chalford prices grew faster — 51% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Cirencester (45 per 1,000) compared to Chalford (50 per 1,000), a 11% difference. The most common crime category in Chalford is violent-crime, while in Cirencester 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 WestSchool quality favours Cirencester: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 75% in Chalford.
Chalford School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cirencester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (4 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chalford | Cirencester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 6 |
| Primary | 3 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Cirencester enjoy 308.4 Mbps on average, while Chalford lags behind at 271.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.7% of premises in Chalford and 94.1% in Cirencester. Gigabit availability stands at 46.4% in Chalford and 55.2% in Cirencester.
Cirencester is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (308 vs 272 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Cirencester is band C (score 69.5), ahead of Chalford's band C (score 67.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,568 in Chalford and £1,394 in Cirencester. 53.6% of homes in Chalford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Cirencester.
Cirencester has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 53.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chalford has a population of 6,665 while Cirencester has 17,715. Median household income is £32,466.8 in Cirencester and £31,220 in Chalford. The median age is 47.9 in Chalford and 46.2 in Cirencester. Employment rates stand at 58.8% in Chalford and 60.7% in Cirencester.
| Indicator | Chalford | Cirencester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,665 | 17,715 |
| Median Age | 47.9 | 46.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,220 | £32,466.8 |
| Employment Rate | 58.8% | 60.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.9% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 39% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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