Chelmsford vs Doddinghurst
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Chelmsford offers lower property prices by roughly 20%. Doddinghurst has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Doddinghurst edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chelmsford
£467,228
Doddinghurst
£582,379
Crime Rate
Chelmsford
69.2
Doddinghurst
64.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chelmsford
93.3%
Doddinghurst
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chelmsford
417.3
Doddinghurst
398
EPC Rating
Chelmsford
72.2
Doddinghurst
70.1
Median Income
Chelmsford
£34,617
Doddinghurst
£39,798
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Chelmsford more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £467,228 versus £582,379 in Doddinghurst. The most affordable entry point in Chelmsford is a flat at £224,709, while in Doddinghurst it is a flat at £225,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 16% pricier in Doddinghurst (£450,000 vs £375,942).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Doddinghurst prices grew faster — 24% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Doddinghurst (64.4 per 1,000) compared to Chelmsford (69.2 per 1,000), a 7% difference. The most common crime category in Chelmsford is violent-crime, while in Doddinghurst 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 Doddinghurst: 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.
Doddinghurst School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chelmsford | Doddinghurst |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Doddinghurst lags behind at 398.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Chelmsford and 97.1% in Doddinghurst. Gigabit availability stands at 79.8% in Chelmsford and 76.1% in Doddinghurst.
Chelmsford is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (417 vs 398 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Chelmsford is band C (score 72.2), ahead of Doddinghurst's band C (score 70.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,205 in Chelmsford and £1,234 in Doddinghurst. 68.2% of homes in Chelmsford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.6% in Doddinghurst.
Chelmsford has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 62.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chelmsford has a population of 110,612 while Doddinghurst has 4,067. Median household income is £39,798 in Doddinghurst and £34,617 in Chelmsford. The median age is 44 in Chelmsford and 44.5 in Doddinghurst. Employment rates stand at 61.5% in Chelmsford and 60.1% in Doddinghurst.
| Indicator | Chelmsford | Doddinghurst |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 110,612 | 4,067 |
| Median Age | 44 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £34,617 | £39,798 |
| Employment Rate | 61.5% | 60.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.3% | 70.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.2% | 33.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chelmsford and Doddinghurst?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chelmsford or Doddinghurst?
Is Chelmsford or Doddinghurst safer?
Which has better schools, Chelmsford or Doddinghurst?
Which has faster broadband, Chelmsford or Doddinghurst?
Keep exploring