Chelmsford vs Great Dunmow
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Great Dunmow is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Great Dunmow has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Great Dunmow edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chelmsford
£467,228
Great Dunmow
£397,500
Crime Rate
Chelmsford
69.2
Great Dunmow
68.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chelmsford
93.3%
Great Dunmow
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chelmsford
417.3
Great Dunmow
409.4
EPC Rating
Chelmsford
72.2
Great Dunmow
71.4
Median Income
Chelmsford
£34,617
Great Dunmow
£35,055
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Chelmsford commands an average of £467,228, compared with £397,500 in Great Dunmow – a difference of 18%. The most affordable entry point in Chelmsford is a flat at £224,709, while in Great Dunmow it is a terraced at £397,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 5% pricier in Great Dunmow (£397,500 vs £375,942).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chelmsford prices grew faster — 22% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandGreat Dunmow has a crime rate of 68.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 1% lower than Chelmsford at 69.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Chelmsford is violent-crime, while in Great Dunmow 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 EnglandFamilies may prefer Great Dunmow, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 93.3% in Chelmsford. There are 34 schools in Chelmsford and 3 in Great Dunmow.
Chelmsford School Inspection Breakdown
93.3% of 34 schools (26 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Great Dunmow School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chelmsford | Great Dunmow |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 34 | 3 |
| Primary | 26 | 2 |
| Secondary | 8 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 93.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 417.3 Mbps in Chelmsford and 409.4 Mbps in Great Dunmow. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Chelmsford and 95.4% in Great Dunmow. Gigabit availability stands at 79.8% in Chelmsford and 79% in Great Dunmow.
Chelmsford is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (417 vs 409 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Chelmsford, scoring 72.2 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Great Dunmow. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,205 in Chelmsford and £1,215 in Great Dunmow. 68.2% of homes in Chelmsford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66% in Great Dunmow.
Chelmsford has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 66% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,055.3 in Great Dunmow and £34,617 in Chelmsford. The median age is 44 in Chelmsford and 44.1 in Great Dunmow. Employment rates stand at 61.5% in Chelmsford and 61.1% in Great Dunmow. Owner-occupancy is 70.3% in Chelmsford versus 69.5% in Great Dunmow. Chelmsford has a population of 110,612 and Great Dunmow has 9,846.
| Indicator | Chelmsford | Great Dunmow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 110,612 | 9,846 |
| Median Age | 44 | 44.1 |
| Median Household Income | £34,617 | £35,055.3 |
| Employment Rate | 61.5% | 61.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.3% | 69.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 35.2% | 32.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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