Chatham vs Maidstone
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Chatham offers lower property prices by roughly 14%. Maidstone has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Maidstone edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chatham
£321,268
Maidstone
£372,558
Crime Rate
Chatham
0.3
Maidstone
0.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chatham
91.3%
Maidstone
96.4%
Avg Download Speed
Chatham
468.9
Maidstone
372.2
EPC Rating
Chatham
72
Maidstone
72
Median Income
Chatham
£32,388
Maidstone
£32,367
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Chatham is £321,268, which is 14% less than Maidstone at £372,558. The most affordable entry point in Chatham is a flat at £177,530, while in Maidstone it is a flat at £184,674.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 21% pricier in Maidstone (£587,868 vs £467,092).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chatham prices grew faster — 44% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 0.2 offences per 1,000 people, Maidstone is the safer of the two – 50% lower than Chatham's 0.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Chatham is violent-crime, while in Maidstone 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 EastMaidstone has 96.4% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 91.3% in Chatham. Chatham has 27 schools in total, while Maidstone has 37.
Chatham School Inspection Breakdown
91.3% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Maidstone School Inspection Breakdown
96.4% of 37 schools (27 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chatham | Maidstone |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 37 |
| Primary | 20 | 27 |
| Secondary | 7 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 91.3% | 96.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Chatham offers faster average downloads at 468.9 Mbps, compared to 372.2 Mbps in Maidstone. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Chatham and 90.4% in Maidstone. Gigabit availability stands at 91.6% in Chatham and 66.6% in Maidstone.
Chatham is the faster of the two by 26% on average download speed (469 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Chatham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 72 (band C) in Maidstone. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,073 in Chatham and £1,100 in Maidstone. 67.3% of homes in Chatham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.5% in Maidstone.
Chatham has more energy-efficient housing — 67.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,388 in Chatham and £32,367 in Maidstone. The median age is 42.4 in Chatham and 43.1 in Maidstone. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Chatham and 60.8% in Maidstone. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Chatham versus 67.4% in Maidstone.
| Indicator | Chatham | Maidstone |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,956 | 108,814 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 43.1 |
| Median Household Income | £32,388 | £32,367 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 60.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.3% | 29.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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