Chippenham (Wiltshire) vs Melksham

Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.0 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Melksham wins on house prices with a 18% gap. Chippenham (wiltshire) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Melksham edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Chippenham (Wiltshire)

£374,791

✓

Melksham

£316,592

Crime Rate

Chippenham (Wiltshire)

48.8

Melksham

48.8

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Chippenham (Wiltshire)

70.0%

✓

Melksham

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

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Chippenham (Wiltshire)

340.4

Melksham

328.9

EPC Rating

Chippenham (Wiltshire)

69.2

Melksham

69.2

Median Income

Chippenham (Wiltshire)

£29,209

Melksham

£29,209

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in South West

At £316,592, Melksham undercuts Chippenham (wiltshire) (£374,791) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Chippenham (wiltshire) is a flat at £160,471, while in Melksham it is a flat at £138,625.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 23% pricier in Chippenham (wiltshire) (£551,505 vs £447,903).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Melksham prices grew faster — 27% vs 21%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in South West

Residents of Chippenham (wiltshire) experience less crime overall, with a rate of 48.8 per 1,000 versus 48.8 per 1,000 in Melksham. The most common crime category in Chippenham (wiltshire) is violent-crime, while in Melksham 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 West

Of the 13 schools in Chippenham (wiltshire), 70% are in the top two inspection bands. In Melksham, which has 4 schools, the figure is 100%.

Chippenham (Wiltshire) School Inspection Breakdown

70% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Melksham School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Chippenham (Wiltshire)	Melksham
Total Schools	13	4
Primary	10	4
Secondary	3	0
% Top two bands	70%	100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Broadband in Chippenham (wiltshire) averages 340.4 Mbps – ahead of Melksham's 328.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.8% of premises in Chippenham (wiltshire) and 92.4% in Melksham. Gigabit availability stands at 62% in Chippenham (wiltshire) and 60.4% in Melksham.

Chippenham (wiltshire) is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (340 vs 329 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Chippenham (wiltshire), scoring 69.2 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Melksham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,297 in Chippenham (wiltshire) and £1,297 in Melksham. 60.1% of homes in Chippenham (wiltshire) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Melksham.

Chippenham (wiltshire) has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 60.1% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £29,209 in Chippenham (wiltshire) and £29,209 in Melksham. The median age is 45.5 in Chippenham (wiltshire) and 45.5 in Melksham. Employment rates stand at 60.2% in Chippenham (wiltshire) and 60.2% in Melksham. Owner-occupancy is 66.8% in Chippenham (wiltshire) versus 66.8% in Melksham. Chippenham (wiltshire) has a population of 36,084 and Melksham has 18,277.

Indicator	Chippenham (Wiltshire)	Melksham
Population	36,084	18,277
Median Age	45.5	45.5
Median Household Income	£29,209	£29,209
Employment Rate	60.2%	60.2%
Owner Occupied	66.8%	66.8%
Degree-Level Qualified	34.2%	34.2%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Chippenham (wiltshire) and Melksham?

Chippenham (wiltshire) and Melksham are approximately 6.0 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chippenham (wiltshire) or Melksham?

Melksham is cheaper, with an average house price of £316,592.

Is Chippenham (wiltshire) or Melksham safer?

Chippenham (wiltshire) has the lower crime rate at 48.8 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Chippenham (wiltshire) or Melksham?

Melksham has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Chippenham (wiltshire) or Melksham?

Chippenham (wiltshire) has faster average broadband at 340.4 Mbps.

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