Chelmsford on the map

Chelmsford built-up area

Built-up area25.2 km² (9.7 sq mi)

Location in EssexChelmsford sits where the marker shows within the county.

185,546
Population
72,104
Households
8 / 10
Deprivation decile
Among least deprived
12
Schools nearby
£67,844
Avg. household income
8,444
Businesses
458
People per km²
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About Chelmsford

Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, located in the east of England. It lies approximately 30 miles northeast of London and is easily accessible by road and rail. The town centre features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including the Grade I listed Chelmsford Cathedral, which dates back to the 13th century. The cathedral is a prominent landmark and a focal point for the community. Chelmsford has a lively market scene, with a weekly market held in the town centre that offers a variety of goods. The town also hosts several cultural events throughout the year, including music festivals and art exhibitions. The surrounding area includes green spaces such as the Chelmer Valley and the River Chelmer, which provide opportunities for walking and leisure. Chelmsford is known for its strong sense of community and its role as a commercial and administrative hub for Essex.

School Ratings in Chelmsford

Families in Chelmsford have access to 72 local schools. Beehive Lane Community Primary School and Chancellor Park Primary School, Chelmsford are each rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 11 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Chelmsford

Homes sell for an average of £454K locally. Most of the housing is made up of detached homes, averaging £607K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Chelmsford

Crime in the area is higher than the national average. Anti-social behaviour is the leading concern across Chelmsford, with 242 incidents recorded in May 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Chelmsford

The 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation places Chelmsford among the least deprived neighbourhoods in England. Working-age employment in the area is well above the national average. Average incomes in the area are typical for England.

Healthcare in Chelmsford

There are 28 GP surgeries within three miles of Chelmsford, the nearest being Health Visitors (0.3 miles away).

Local Data for Chelmsford

Dig deeper into the area around Chelmsford with our free postcode tools.

Food Hygiene Ratings Hygiene scores for cafes, takeaways and shops Nearest GP Surgery Find the GP surgeries closest to a postcode Compare Areas Put two areas head to head House Prices Recent sale prices and trends

Property Prices 25,461 sales

Average Price £454K
£100 , £61.05M
Detached £607K 7,505
Semi £410K 6,548
Terraced £341K 5,039
Flat £225K 5,431

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

41 Primary
9 Secondary
22 Other
Outstanding 3
Good 11
Requires improvement 1
Inadequate 1

Ofsted ratings for schools in the CM2 postcode area.

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School Primary Good 0.1 miles St Anne's School Not applicable 0.2 miles St Cedd's School Not applicable 0.4 miles Oaklands Infant School Primary 0.4 miles Chelmsford College 16 plus Good 0.4 miles Community College Initiative Ltd Not applicable Good 0.5 miles The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford Primary Good 0.5 miles King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford Secondary Outstanding 0.6 miles Maltese Road Primary School Primary Good 0.7 miles Westlands Community Primary School Primary Good 0.7 miles Trinity Road Primary School Primary Good 0.8 miles Moulsham Infant School Primary Good 0.8 miles

Household Income in Chelmsford ONS 2023

The average total household income in Chelmsford is approximately £67,844 a year before tax, 23% above the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £47,840. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.

Chelmsford £67,844
England & Wales avg. £55,302

Net (after tax) household income averages £47,840.

Businesses in Chelmsford ONS 2025

There are approximately 8,444 active businesses based in Chelmsford, around 46 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 90% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 134 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.

8,444 Total businesses
46 Per 1,000 residents
Micro, 0-9 90%
Small, 10-49 9%
Medium, 50-249 1%
Large, 250+ 0%

Deprivation and Employment in Chelmsford IMD 2025

According to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation, Chelmsford experiences very low levels of deprivation. The local economy supports strong employment and incomes are above the national average. Access to services, education and healthcare in the area is generally good.

Overall Deprivation
8/10
Income
7/10
Employment
8/10
Education
8/10
Health
8/10
Housing
7/10
Living Environment
7/10
Children 0-15 18%
Working age 62%
Older 65+ 20%
34,411 Children (0-15) 18%
115,919 Working Age 62%
36,645 Older (65+) 20%
Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 21.6% of children in income-deprived families
Above Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 11.7% of over-60s in income-deprived households
Data from English Indices of Deprivation 2025 · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Crime in Chelmsford 2,018 crimes · May 2026

High Crime Area

Crime figures for Chelmsford are higher than the England and Wales average, with violence & sexual offences the most prevalent offence recorded. Urban density and footfall contribute to elevated reporting in areas like this. Ongoing investment in policing and community safety programmes aims to improve the picture.

Violence & Sexual Offences 782
Anti-Social Behaviour 242
Shoplifting 178
Public Order 154
Criminal Damage & Arson 133
Other Theft 127
Vehicle Crime 104
Drugs 96
Burglary 60
Other Crime 47
Weapons 29
Bicycle Theft 27
Robbery 26
Theft from Person 13
Local Policing
Essex Chelmsford Town Visit force website →
Data from data.police.uk · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Crime figures depend on reporting by individual police forces and may not reflect the full picture in all areas.

Nearest Train Stations 6 stations

Chelmsford Train Station 0.3 miles
Ingatestone Train Station 5.8 miles
Hatfield Peverel Train Station 6.3 miles
Billericay Train Station 7.4 miles
South Woodham Ferrers Train Station 8.2 miles
Wickford Train Station 8.3 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Moulsham 0.6 miles Widford 0.9 miles Great Baddow 1.4 miles Springfield 1.4 miles Reader's Corner 1.8 miles Writtle 1.9 miles Chelmer Village 2 miles Galleyend 2.2 miles Great Oxney Green 2.5 miles Lower Green 2.5 miles Parsonage Green 2.5 miles Broomfield 2.5 miles

Local Government

District Chelmsford
County Essex
Ward South Hanningfield, Stock and Margaretting
Constituency Maldon
Parish Stock
Region East of England

Home Ownership in Chelmsford

Of the 77,061 households in and around Chelmsford, 71% are owned, 13% are socially rented and 16% are privately rented. Home ownership here is higher than the England and Wales average of 63%.

Owned 71% Social rented 13% Private rented 16%

Tenure from the 2021 Census (ONS), for the postcode districts covering Chelmsford.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chelmsford

What is the population of Chelmsford?
Chelmsford has a population of approximately 185,546 residents, based on the latest census figures for the surrounding postcode area.
What is the average house price in Chelmsford?
The average property in and around Chelmsford sold for about £454,098, based on HM Land Registry Price Paid records. That is around 30% above the England and Wales average of £349,091.
Is Chelmsford a deprived area?
Chelmsford sits among the least deprived areas in England, with an Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 8 out of 10, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived.
What postcodes cover Chelmsford?
Chelmsford is covered by the CM1, CM2, CM3, CM92, CM98, CM99 postcode districts.
How many schools are there in Chelmsford?
There are 12 schools within easy reach of Chelmsford, spanning primary, secondary and other phases.
Where is the nearest train station to Chelmsford?
The nearest railway station to Chelmsford is Chelmsford Train Station, about 0.3 miles away.

Streets in Chelmsford 30 shown View all streets

A12 1 Abbess Close 1 Abbey Fields 2 Abbotsleigh Road 2 Abbotts Place 2 Abell Way 1 Acer Grove 2 Acres End 1 Admirals Walk 1 Agar Place 1 Akenfield Close 1 Alamein Road 1 Albany Close 1 Albatross Way 2 Albemarle Link 2 Albert Road 2 Albra Mead 1 Aldeburgh Way 2 Alder Drive 2 Alderbury Lea 1 Aldridge Close 1 Alexander Mews 1 Alfred Mews 1 Algars Way 1 Alick Hornsnell View 1 All Saints Close 1 Allen Way 1 Allen's Close 1 Alma Drive 2 Alyssum Close 1

Postcodes in Chelmsford 50 shown View all postcodes

CM1 1AE CM1 1AF CM1 1AG CM1 1AH CM1 1AN CM1 1AP CM1 1AQ CM1 1AT CM1 1AU CM1 1AW CM1 1BA CM1 1BB CM1 1BD CM1 1BE CM1 1BS CM1 1BT CM1 1BY CM1 1DB CM1 1DD CM1 1DE CM1 1DG CM1 1DH CM1 1DL CM1 1DN CM1 1DR CM1 1DU CM1 1DW CM1 1DX CM1 1EA CM1 1EB CM1 1EH CM1 1EJ CM1 1EL CM1 1EQ CM1 1ER CM1 1EW CM1 1FG CM1 1FH CM1 1FR CM1 1FU CM1 1FW CM1 1FZ CM1 1GD CM1 1GE CM1 1GF CM1 1GG CM1 1GH CM1 1GJ CM1 1GL CM1 1GN