Chigwell vs Hertford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Hertford wins on house prices with a 17% gap. Hertford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chigwell edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chigwell
£617,191
Hertford
£525,406
Crime Rate
Chigwell
64.1
Hertford
51.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chigwell
100.0%
Hertford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chigwell
433.8
Hertford
369.8
EPC Rating
Chigwell
70.6
Hertford
72.4
Median Income
Chigwell
£36,572
Hertford
£36,596
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Chigwell commands an average of £617,191, compared with £525,406 in Hertford – a difference of 17%. The most affordable entry point in Chigwell is a flat at £338,714, while in Hertford it is a flat at £303,355.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 35% pricier in Chigwell (£1,338,738 vs £992,158).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hertford prices grew faster — 24% vs -6%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Hertford experience less crime overall, with a rate of 51.8 per 1,000 versus 64.1 per 1,000 in Chigwell. The most common crime category in Chigwell is violent-crime, while in Hertford 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 Chigwell, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Hertford. There are 4 schools in Chigwell and 11 in Hertford.
Chigwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hertford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chigwell | Hertford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 11 |
| Primary | 3 | 8 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 433.8 Mbps in Chigwell and 369.8 Mbps in Hertford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.9% of premises in Chigwell and 90.6% in Hertford. Gigabit availability stands at 84.6% in Chigwell and 68.4% in Hertford.
Chigwell is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (434 vs 370 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Hertford, scoring 72.4 on average (band C) compared to 70.6 (band C) in Chigwell. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,152 in Chigwell and £1,112 in Hertford. 63% of homes in Chigwell have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.8% in Hertford.
Hertford has more energy-efficient housing — 71.8% reach band C or above, vs 63% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £36,596 in Hertford and £36,572 in Chigwell. The median age is 41 in Chigwell and 42.2 in Hertford. Employment rates stand at 59.2% in Chigwell and 61.2% in Hertford. Owner-occupancy is 63.3% in Chigwell versus 64.8% in Hertford. Chigwell has a population of 12,251 and Hertford has 28,807.
| Indicator | Chigwell | Hertford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,251 | 28,807 |
| Median Age | 41 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £36,572 | £36,596 |
| Employment Rate | 59.2% | 61.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.3% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 37.4% | 34.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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