Town comparison
Chirk vs Wem
Which is better to live in? 15.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Chirk is about 14% cheaper on average. Wem has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Chirk
£240,097
Wem
£280,551
Crime Rate
Chirk
84.7
Wem
48.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chirk
N/A
Wem
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chirk
304.7
Wem
237.5
EPC Rating
Chirk
69.4
Wem
72.1
Median Income
Chirk
£29,535
Wem
£29,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesBuyers will find Chirk more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £240,097 versus £280,551 in Wem. The most affordable entry point in Chirk is a terraced at £165,722, while in Wem it is a flat at £119,667.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 13% pricier in Wem (£242,667 vs £210,466).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chirk prices grew faster — 71% vs 53%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesCrime is lower in Wem (48.2 per 1,000) compared to Chirk (84.7 per 1,000), a 76% difference. The most common crime category in Chirk is violent-crime, while in Wem 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 WalesSchool quality data is not fully available for both Chirk and Wem. Chirk has 0 schools and Wem has 2 schools.
Chirk School Inspection Breakdown
Wem School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chirk | Wem |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 2 |
| Primary | 0 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Chirk enjoy 304.7 Mbps on average, while Wem lags behind at 237.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Chirk and 77% in Wem. Gigabit availability stands at 52.5% in Chirk and 40.2% in Wem.
Chirk is the faster of the two by 28% on average download speed (305 vs 238 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Wem is band C (score 72.1), ahead of Chirk's band C (score 69.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,319 in Chirk and £1,205 in Wem. 58.4% of homes in Chirk have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.6% in Wem.
Wem has more energy-efficient housing — 68.6% reach band C or above, vs 58.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chirk has a population of 3,930 while Wem has 6,287. Median household income is £29,660.5 in Wem and £29,535 in Chirk. The median age is 46 in Chirk and 44.8 in Wem. Employment rates stand at 56% in Chirk and 56.8% in Wem.
| Indicator | Chirk | Wem |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,930 | 6,287 |
| Median Age | 46 | 44.8 |
| Median Household Income | £29,535 | £29,660.5 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 64.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.8% | 29.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chirk and Wem?
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