Chalford vs Malmesbury
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Chalford is about 23% cheaper on average. Malmesbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Malmesbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chalford
£365,133
Malmesbury
£472,487
Crime Rate
Chalford
50.0
Malmesbury
48.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chalford
75.0%
Malmesbury
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chalford
271.6
Malmesbury
279.7
EPC Rating
Chalford
67.6
Malmesbury
67.8
Median Income
Chalford
£31,220
Malmesbury
£30,517
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Chalford more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £365,133 versus £472,487 in Malmesbury. The most affordable entry point in Chalford is a flat at £164,500, while in Malmesbury it is a flat at £217,312.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 33% pricier in Malmesbury (£389,401 vs £261,458).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chalford prices grew faster — 51% vs 42%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 48.7 offences per 1,000 people, Malmesbury is the safer of the two – 3% lower than Chalford's 50 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Chalford is violent-crime, while in Malmesbury 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 Malmesbury: 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.
Malmesbury School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chalford | Malmesbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 3 |
| Primary | 3 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Malmesbury enjoy 279.7 Mbps on average, while Chalford lags behind at 271.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.7% of premises in Chalford and 93.3% in Malmesbury. Gigabit availability stands at 46.4% in Chalford and 48.4% in Malmesbury.
Malmesbury is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (280 vs 272 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Malmesbury is band C (score 67.8), ahead of Chalford's band C (score 67.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,568 in Chalford and £1,508 in Malmesbury. 53.6% of homes in Chalford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.8% in Malmesbury.
Malmesbury has more energy-efficient housing — 55.8% reach band C or above, vs 53.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chalford has a population of 6,665 while Malmesbury has 7,184. Median household income is £31,220 in Chalford and £30,516.5 in Malmesbury. The median age is 47.9 in Chalford and 47.2 in Malmesbury. Employment rates stand at 58.8% in Chalford and 59% in Malmesbury.
| Indicator | Chalford | Malmesbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,665 | 7,184 |
| Median Age | 47.9 | 47.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,220 | £30,516.5 |
| Employment Rate | 58.8% | 59% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.9% | 65.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.2% | 37% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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