Chichester vs Petersfield
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Chichester is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 8% lower. Petersfield has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chichester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chichester
£550,043
Petersfield
£599,506
Crime Rate
Chichester
61.9
Petersfield
43.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chichester
100.0%
Petersfield
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chichester
400.4
Petersfield
305.3
EPC Rating
Chichester
68.5
Petersfield
72.6
Median Income
Chichester
£28,263
Petersfield
£36,108
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Petersfield commands an average of £599,506, compared with £550,043 in Chichester – a difference of 8%. The most affordable entry point in Chichester is a flat at £266,035, while in Petersfield it is a flat at £242,424.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 18% pricier in Petersfield (£900,161 vs £737,520).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Petersfield prices grew faster — 29% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastPetersfield has a crime rate of 43.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 42% lower than Chichester at 61.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Chichester is violent-crime, while in Petersfield 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 EastFamilies may prefer Chichester, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Petersfield. There are 9 schools in Chichester and 3 in Petersfield.
Chichester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Petersfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chichester | Petersfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 9 | 3 |
| Primary | 7 | 2 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 400.4 Mbps in Chichester and 305.3 Mbps in Petersfield. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.1% of premises in Chichester and 83.7% in Petersfield. Gigabit availability stands at 73% in Chichester and 55.6% in Petersfield.
Chichester is the faster of the two by 31% on average download speed (400 vs 305 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Petersfield, scoring 72.6 on average (band C) compared to 68.5 (band C) in Chichester. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,402 in Chichester and £1,236 in Petersfield. 58.1% of homes in Chichester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69% in Petersfield.
Petersfield has more energy-efficient housing — 69% reach band C or above, vs 58.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,108 in Petersfield and £28,263 in Chichester. The median age is 49.4 in Chichester and 45.8 in Petersfield. Employment rates stand at 53.8% in Chichester and 58.6% in Petersfield. Owner-occupancy is 65.4% in Chichester versus 69.3% in Petersfield. Chichester has a population of 31,709 and Petersfield has 14,994.
| Indicator | Chichester | Petersfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,709 | 14,994 |
| Median Age | 49.4 | 45.8 |
| Median Household Income | £28,263 | £36,108 |
| Employment Rate | 53.8% | 58.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.4% | 69.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 37.2% | 41.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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