Chelmsford vs Danbury
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Chelmsford offers lower property prices by roughly 22%. Danbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Danbury edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chelmsford
£467,228
Danbury
£602,125
Crime Rate
Chelmsford
69.2
Danbury
69.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chelmsford
93.3%
Danbury
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chelmsford
417.3
Danbury
348.8
EPC Rating
Chelmsford
72.2
Danbury
71.3
Median Income
Chelmsford
£34,617
Danbury
£34,276
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Chelmsford more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £467,228 versus £602,125 in Danbury. The most affordable entry point in Chelmsford is a flat at £224,709, while in Danbury it is a flat at £340,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Danbury (£340,000 vs £224,709).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chelmsford prices grew faster — 22% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Danbury (69.1 per 1,000) compared to Chelmsford (69.2 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Chelmsford is violent-crime, while in Danbury 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 East of EnglandSchool quality favours Danbury: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 93.3% in Chelmsford.
Chelmsford School Inspection Breakdown
93.3% of 34 schools (26 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Danbury School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chelmsford | Danbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 34 | 2 |
| Primary | 26 | 2 |
| Secondary | 8 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 93.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Chelmsford enjoy 417.3 Mbps on average, while Danbury lags behind at 348.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Chelmsford and 93% in Danbury. Gigabit availability stands at 79.8% in Chelmsford and 63.5% in Danbury.
Chelmsford is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (417 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Chelmsford is band C (score 72.2), ahead of Danbury's band C (score 71.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,205 in Chelmsford and £1,219 in Danbury. 68.2% of homes in Chelmsford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.8% in Danbury.
Chelmsford has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 64.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chelmsford has a population of 110,612 while Danbury has 6,196. Median household income is £34,617 in Chelmsford and £34,275.8 in Danbury. The median age is 44 in Chelmsford and 45 in Danbury. Employment rates stand at 61.5% in Chelmsford and 59.9% in Danbury.
| Indicator | Chelmsford | Danbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 110,612 | 6,196 |
| Median Age | 44 | 45 |
| Median Household Income | £34,617 | £34,275.8 |
| Employment Rate | 61.5% | 59.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.3% | 71.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.2% | 30.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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