Chatham vs Gillingham (Medway)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 2.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Chatham is about 2% cheaper on average. Chatham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Gillingham (medway) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chatham
£321,268
Gillingham (Medway)
£326,475
Crime Rate
Chatham
0.3
Gillingham (Medway)
0.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chatham
91.3%
Gillingham (Medway)
96.3%
Avg Download Speed
Chatham
468.9
Gillingham (Medway)
479.7
EPC Rating
Chatham
72
Gillingham (Medway)
71.3
Median Income
Chatham
£32,388
Gillingham (Medway)
£31,916
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Chatham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £321,268 versus £326,475 in Gillingham (medway). The most affordable entry point in Chatham is a flat at £177,530, while in Gillingham (medway) it is a flat at £155,412.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 14% pricier in Chatham (£177,530 vs £155,412).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chatham prices grew faster — 44% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Chatham (0.3 per 1,000) compared to Gillingham (medway) (0.3 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Chatham is violent-crime, while in Gillingham (medway) 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 EastSchool quality favours Gillingham (medway): 96.3% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.3% in Chatham.
Chatham School Inspection Breakdown
91.3% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Gillingham (Medway) School Inspection Breakdown
96.3% of 33 schools (25 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chatham | Gillingham (Medway) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 33 |
| Primary | 20 | 25 |
| Secondary | 7 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 91.3% | 96.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Gillingham (medway) enjoy 479.7 Mbps on average, while Chatham lags behind at 468.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Chatham and 98.1% in Gillingham (medway). Gigabit availability stands at 91.6% in Chatham and 95.3% in Gillingham (medway).
Gillingham (medway) is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (480 vs 469 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Chatham is band C (score 72), ahead of Gillingham (medway)'s band C (score 71.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,073 in Chatham and £1,042 in Gillingham (medway). 67.3% of homes in Chatham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66% in Gillingham (medway).
Chatham has more energy-efficient housing — 67.3% reach band C or above, vs 66% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chatham has a population of 76,956 while Gillingham (medway) has 108,485. Median household income is £32,388 in Chatham and £31,915.5 in Gillingham (medway). The median age is 42.4 in Chatham and 41.7 in Gillingham (medway). Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Chatham and 58.1% in Gillingham (medway).
| Indicator | Chatham | Gillingham (Medway) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,956 | 108,485 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 41.7 |
| Median Household Income | £32,388 | £31,915.5 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 58.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.3% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chatham and Gillingham (medway)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chatham or Gillingham (medway)?
Is Chatham or Gillingham (medway) safer?
Which has better schools, Chatham or Gillingham (medway)?
Which has faster broadband, Chatham or Gillingham (medway)?
Keep exploring