Chard vs Lyme Regis
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Chard offers lower property prices by roughly 37%. Lyme Regis has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chard edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chard
£298,462
Lyme Regis
£470,807
Crime Rate
Chard
83.2
Lyme Regis
44.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chard
100.0%
Lyme Regis
50.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chard
221.4
Lyme Regis
379.5
EPC Rating
Chard
68.5
Lyme Regis
68.6
Median Income
Chard
£29,142
Lyme Regis
£29,812
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Chard is £298,462, which is 37% less than Lyme Regis at £470,807. The most affordable entry point in Chard is a flat at £108,125, while in Lyme Regis it is a flat at £318,629.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 66% pricier in Lyme Regis (£318,629 vs £108,125).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chard prices grew faster — 37% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 44.9 offences per 1,000 people, Lyme Regis is the safer of the two – 85% lower than Chard's 83.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Chard is violent-crime, while in Lyme Regis 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 WestChard has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 50% in Lyme Regis. Chard has 4 schools in total, while Lyme Regis has 2.
Chard School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lyme Regis School Inspection Breakdown
50% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chard | Lyme Regis |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 50% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Lyme Regis offers faster average downloads at 379.5 Mbps, compared to 221.4 Mbps in Chard. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 75.7% of premises in Chard and 91% in Lyme Regis. Gigabit availability stands at 37.5% in Chard and 72.6% in Lyme Regis.
Lyme Regis is the faster of the two by 71% on average download speed (380 vs 221 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Lyme Regis are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 68.6 (band C) versus 68.5 (band C) in Chard. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,362 in Chard and £1,358 in Lyme Regis. 57.7% of homes in Chard have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.2% in Lyme Regis.
Chard has more energy-efficient housing — 57.7% reach band C or above, vs 57.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,811.5 in Lyme Regis and £29,141.8 in Chard. The median age is 48.6 in Chard and 51.2 in Lyme Regis. Employment rates stand at 55.3% in Chard and 52.2% in Lyme Regis. Owner-occupancy is 68.8% in Chard versus 71.3% in Lyme Regis.
| Indicator | Chard | Lyme Regis |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,287 | 3,741 |
| Median Age | 48.6 | 51.2 |
| Median Household Income | £29,141.8 | £29,811.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55.3% | 52.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.8% | 71.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.2% | 32.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chard and Lyme Regis?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chard or Lyme Regis?
Is Chard or Lyme Regis safer?
Which has better schools, Chard or Lyme Regis?
Which has faster broadband, Chard or Lyme Regis?
Keep exploring