Chatham vs Sheerness
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Sheerness offers lower property prices by roughly 16%. Chatham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Sheerness edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chatham
£321,268
Sheerness
£277,461
Crime Rate
Chatham
0.3
Sheerness
86.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chatham
91.3%
Sheerness
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chatham
468.9
Sheerness
370.5
EPC Rating
Chatham
72
Sheerness
72
Median Income
Chatham
£32,388
Sheerness
£31,675
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Sheerness more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £277,461 versus £321,268 in Chatham. The most affordable entry point in Chatham is a flat at £177,530, while in Sheerness it is a flat at £140,954.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 27% pricier in Chatham (£467,092 vs £366,690).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chatham prices grew faster — 44% vs 38%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Chatham (0.3 per 1,000) compared to Sheerness (86.9 per 1,000), a 28867% difference. The most common crime category in Chatham is violent-crime, while in Sheerness 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 Sheerness: 100% 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.
Sheerness School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chatham | Sheerness |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 27 | 5 |
| Primary | 20 | 4 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 91.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Chatham enjoy 468.9 Mbps on average, while Sheerness lags behind at 370.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Chatham and 93.8% in Sheerness. Gigabit availability stands at 91.6% in Chatham and 66.5% in Sheerness.
Chatham is the faster of the two by 27% on average download speed (469 vs 371 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Chatham is band C (score 72), ahead of Sheerness's band C (score 72). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,073 in Chatham and £1,048 in Sheerness. 67.3% of homes in Chatham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Sheerness.
Chatham has more energy-efficient housing — 67.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chatham has a population of 76,956 while Sheerness has 13,253. Median household income is £32,388 in Chatham and £31,675 in Sheerness. The median age is 42.4 in Chatham and 42.6 in Sheerness. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Chatham and 56.7% in Sheerness.
| Indicator | Chatham | Sheerness |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,956 | 13,253 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,388 | £31,675 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 56.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.3% | 23.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chatham and Sheerness?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chatham or Sheerness?
Is Chatham or Sheerness safer?
Which has better schools, Chatham or Sheerness?
Which has faster broadband, Chatham or Sheerness?
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