House prices in Chelmsford
The median price paid for a home in Chelmsford was £398,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 2,201 sales. House prices in Chelmsford fell 0.5% in the year to September 2026, and are 6.1% higher than five years earlier. In the 12 months to September 2026, the median price in Chelmsford was 20% higher than the median for East of England (£332,500). The average private rent in Chelmsford was £1,439 a month in August 2026, 2.3% up on a year earlier (ONS). Chelmsford had 7.1 crimes per 100 people recorded by the police in the 12 months to August 2026.
House prices in Chelmsford
The median price paid in Chelmsford was £398,000 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 2,201 sales, or £4,540 per square metre of floor area.
By type of home
| Type | Median price | Sales | Per m² | 1 year | 5 years | East of England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £585,000 | 604 | £4,799 | +0.3% | +8.9% | £457,500 |
| Semi-detached | £427,500 | 627 | £4,730 | +0.6% | +11.0% | £340,062 |
| Terraced | £355,000 | 512 | £4,563 | −0.3% | +10.9% | £300,000 |
| Flats | £212,500 | 458 | £3,862 | −3.4% | +1.2% | £200,000 |
Compared with East of England and England
Median price
Price per m² of floor area
| Area | Median price | 1 year | 5 years | Per m² | Per m², 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | £398,000 | −0.5% | +6.1% | £4,540 | −0.8% |
| East of England | £332,500 | −2.2% | +5.6% | £3,841 | −0.7% |
| England | £285,000 | −1.4% | +5.6% | £3,333 | −0.6% |
By floor area, homes in Chelmsford sold for a median £4,540 per m² in the 12 months to September 2026, 18% higher than the figure for East of England (£3,841).
Chelmsford has the 76th highest median price of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 16th highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Its −0.5% change over the year is the 136th biggest price fall of 317 in England and Wales, and the 19th biggest rise of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Rents in Chelmsford
The average private rent in Chelmsford was £1,439 a month in August 2026, 2.3% up on a year earlier. Rents in Chelmsford are 33.0% higher than five years earlier (August 2026 against August 2021).
Chelmsford has the 75th highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 14th highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
How many homes sell in Chelmsford
2,049 homes were sold in Chelmsford in the 12 months to September 2026, 1.09 for every 100 people living there. In the 12 months to June 2026, sales in Chelmsford were 3.3% up on the year before and 36.1% lower than five years earlier.
That is the 121st most sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 20th most of 45 local authorities in East of England.
Home sales per 100 people: sales recorded by HM Land Registry, less those not at full market value, against ONS's population estimate.
Crime in Chelmsford
The police recorded 13,766 crimes in Chelmsford in the 12 months to August 2026, 7.1 for every 100 people living or working there. Recorded crime in Chelmsford rose 8.4% in the 12 months to August 2026 compared with the 12 months before, and is 10.5% lower than three years earlier.
| Kind of crime | Per 100 people |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3.34 |
| Anti-social behaviour, damage, drugs and public order | 2.42 |
| Theft and vehicle crime | 1.01 |
| Burglary and robbery | 0.34 |
Chelmsford has the 119th lowest crime rate of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures, and the 21st highest of 45 local authorities in East of England.
The figure for England leaves out Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester, whose police have not published every month.
Street crime from police.uk. People are those living there plus those coming in to work, so town and city centres aren't overstated.
Deprivation in Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the 64th least deprived of 296 local authorities in England on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is the most deprived).
| Part of the index | Rank of 296 (1 = most deprived) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 233rd |
| Income | 236th |
| Employment | 232nd |
| Education and skills | 230th |
| Health | 234th |
| Crime | 140th |
| Barriers to housing and services | 168th |
| Living environment | 231st |
Broadband and mobile in Chelmsford
87.9% of premises in Chelmsford can get gigabit broadband and 97.8% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), by Ofcom's latest figures. 81.1% can get full fibre, and 0.5% get under 10 Mbit/s. Its gigabit coverage is the 140th lowest of 318 local authorities in England and Wales.
Premises able to get gigabit broadband
85.6% of premises in Chelmsford get good 4G indoors from all four mobile networks (England: 91.2%).
People moving in and out in Chelmsford
In the year ending June 2025, 12,861 people moved to Chelmsford from elsewhere in the UK and 11,516 moved away, a net gain of 1,345 (7.1 per 1,000 residents).
Most moved in from
- Basildon 1,031
- Havering 761
- Braintree 746
Most moved out to
- Braintree 1,528
- Maldon 791
- Colchester 600
Moves within the UK only (ONS internal migration); people arriving from or leaving for abroad aren't counted.
Questions about Chelmsford
How much does a house cost in Chelmsford?
The median price paid for a home in Chelmsford was £398,000 in the 12 months to September 2026. By type: detached £585,000; semi-detached £427,500; terraced £355,000; flats £212,500.
Are house prices in Chelmsford going up?
In the year to September 2026, the median price in Chelmsford fell 0.5%, and over five years it rose 6.1%. Across East of England prices fell 2.2% over the same year.
How much is rent in Chelmsford?
The average private rent in Chelmsford was £1,439 a month in August 2026. 1 bed £1,059; 2 bed £1,291; 3 bed £1,543; 4+ bed £2,220.
Is Chelmsford a safe place to live?
Chelmsford had 7.1 crimes per 100 people in the 12 months to August 2026, the 119th lowest of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures. The figure for East of England was 7.2. Crime varies a lot from street to street: look up a postcode on the map for its own figures.
Can you get full fibre broadband in Chelmsford?
81.1% of premises in Chelmsford can get full fibre and 87.9% can get gigabit broadband, by Ofcom's latest figures.
Nearby areas
- Maldon 12 km
- Basildon 16 km
- Brentwood 17 km
- Castle Point 21 km
- Braintree 22 km
Sources: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, ONS (private rents, population estimates, internal migration), police.uk, MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Ofcom Connected Nations. Figures updated November 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right; Office for National Statistics and police.uk data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.