Town comparison
Cholsey vs Harwell
Which is better to live in? 6.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Harwell offers lower property prices by roughly 5%. Cholsey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cholsey edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cholsey
£437,338
Harwell
£415,434
Crime Rate
Cholsey
40.3
Harwell
46.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cholsey
100.0%
Harwell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cholsey
350.1
Harwell
403.2
EPC Rating
Cholsey
70.9
Harwell
72
Median Income
Cholsey
£38,006
Harwell
£38,125
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Harwell more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £415,434 versus £437,338 in Cholsey. The most affordable entry point in Cholsey is a flat at £307,292, while in Harwell it is a flat at £224,272.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 37% pricier in Cholsey (£307,292 vs £224,272).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cholsey prices grew faster — 17% vs 2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 40.3 offences per 1,000 people, Cholsey is the safer of the two – 16% lower than Harwell's 46.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cholsey is violent-crime, while in Harwell 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 EastSchool quality favours Cholsey: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Harwell.
Cholsey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cholsey | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 1 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Harwell enjoy 403.2 Mbps on average, while Cholsey lags behind at 350.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.4% of premises in Cholsey and 96% in Harwell. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Cholsey and 75.6% in Harwell.
Harwell is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (403 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Harwell is band C (score 72), ahead of Cholsey's band C (score 70.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,343 in Cholsey and £1,266 in Harwell. 64.2% of homes in Cholsey have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.1% in Harwell.
Harwell has more energy-efficient housing — 66.1% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Cholsey has a population of 3,776 while Harwell has 3,067. Median household income is £38,125 in Harwell and £38,006 in Cholsey. The median age is 44.8 in Cholsey and 44.4 in Harwell. Employment rates stand at 62.9% in Cholsey and 63% in Harwell.
| Indicator | Cholsey | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,776 | 3,067 |
| Median Age | 44.8 | 44.4 |
| Median Household Income | £38,006 | £38,125 |
| Employment Rate | 62.9% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.2% | 69.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.6% | 43.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cholsey and Harwell?
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