Town comparison
Cheltenham vs Gloucester
Which is better to live in? 6.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Gloucester is about 40% cheaper on average. Cheltenham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cheltenham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cheltenham
£443,327
Gloucester
£317,651
Crime Rate
Cheltenham
38.5
Gloucester
44.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cheltenham
96.3%
Gloucester
90.6%
Avg Download Speed
Cheltenham
467.9
Gloucester
450.2
EPC Rating
Cheltenham
72.3
Gloucester
69.8
Median Income
Cheltenham
£32,548
Gloucester
£30,480
House Prices (2025)
The average house price in Gloucester is £317,651, which is 40% less than Cheltenham at £443,327. The most affordable entry point in Cheltenham is a flat at £240,625, while in Gloucester it is a flat at £137,083.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 76% pricier in Cheltenham (£240,625 vs £137,083).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cheltenham prices grew faster — 34% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
With 38.5 offences per 1,000 people, Cheltenham is the safer of the two – 15% lower than Gloucester's 44.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cheltenham is violent-crime, while in Gloucester it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Cheltenham has 96.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90.6% in Gloucester. Cheltenham has 33 schools in total, while Gloucester has 36.
Cheltenham School Inspection Breakdown
96.3% of 33 schools (27 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Gloucester School Inspection Breakdown
90.6% of 36 schools (28 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cheltenham | Gloucester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 33 | 36 |
| Primary | 27 | 28 |
| Secondary | 6 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 96.3% | 90.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cheltenham offers faster average downloads at 467.9 Mbps, compared to 450.2 Mbps in Gloucester. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98% of premises in Cheltenham and 97.9% in Gloucester. Gigabit availability stands at 92% in Cheltenham and 88.3% in Gloucester.
Cheltenham is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (468 vs 450 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cheltenham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.3 (band C) versus 69.8 (band C) in Gloucester. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,075 in Cheltenham and £1,307 in Gloucester. 69.4% of homes in Cheltenham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.3% in Gloucester.
Cheltenham has more energy-efficient housing — 69.4% reach band C or above, vs 60.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,548 in Cheltenham and £30,480 in Gloucester. The median age is 44.6 in Cheltenham and 45.7 in Gloucester. Employment rates stand at 60.1% in Cheltenham and 59.8% in Gloucester. Owner-occupancy is 67.2% in Cheltenham versus 68.1% in Gloucester.
| Indicator | Cheltenham | Gloucester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,941 | 118,562 |
| Median Age | 44.6 | 45.7 |
| Median Household Income | £32,548 | £30,480 |
| Employment Rate | 60.1% | 59.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.2% | 68.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.5% | 35.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cheltenham and Gloucester?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cheltenham or Gloucester?
Is Cheltenham or Gloucester safer?
Which has better schools, Cheltenham or Gloucester?
Which has faster broadband, Cheltenham or Gloucester?
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