Chatham vs Paddock Wood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Chatham offers lower property prices by roughly 39%. Chatham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Paddock Wood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chatham
£321,268
Paddock Wood
£529,564
Crime Rate
Chatham
0.3
Paddock Wood
0.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chatham
91.3%
Paddock Wood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chatham
468.9
Paddock Wood
328.1
EPC Rating
Chatham
72
Paddock Wood
71.2
Median Income
Chatham
£32,388
Paddock Wood
£34,114
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Chatham is £321,268, which is 39% less than Paddock Wood at £529,564. The most affordable entry point in Chatham is a flat at £177,530, while in Paddock Wood it is a flat at £220,772.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 26% pricier in Paddock Wood (£449,499 vs £331,119).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Paddock Wood prices grew faster — 61% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Chatham (0.3 per 1,000) compared to Paddock Wood (0.3 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Chatham is violent-crime, while in Paddock Wood 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 EastPaddock Wood has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 91.3% in Chatham. Chatham has 27 schools in total, while Paddock Wood has 2.
Chatham School Inspection Breakdown
91.3% of 27 schools (20 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paddock Wood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chatham | Paddock Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 2 |
| Primary | 20 | 1 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 91.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Chatham offers faster average downloads at 468.9 Mbps, compared to 328.1 Mbps in Paddock Wood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Chatham and 89.1% in Paddock Wood. Gigabit availability stands at 91.6% in Chatham and 60.5% in Paddock Wood.
Chatham is the faster of the two by 43% on average download speed (469 vs 328 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Chatham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 71.2 (band C) in Paddock Wood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,073 in Chatham and £1,197 in Paddock Wood. 67.3% of homes in Chatham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.3% in Paddock Wood.
Chatham has more energy-efficient housing — 67.3% reach band C or above, vs 64.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,114.3 in Paddock Wood and £32,388 in Chatham. The median age is 42.4 in Chatham and 43.6 in Paddock Wood. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Chatham and 60.8% in Paddock Wood. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Chatham versus 67.5% in Paddock Wood.
| Indicator | Chatham | Paddock Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,956 | 7,270 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 43.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,388 | £34,114.3 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 60.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.3% | 34.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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