Chignall Smealy on the map

Location in EssexChignall Smealy sits where the marker shows within the county.

69,980
Population
26,010
Households
7 / 10
Deprivation decile
Around average
12
Schools nearby
£66,403
Avg. household income
2,876
Businesses
636
People per km²
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About Chignall Smealy

Chignall Smealy is a small village located in the county of Essex, in the east of England. It lies within the CM1 postcode area and is situated near the border with Hertfordshire. The village is part of the civil parish of Chignall, and the name Smealy is thought to derive from Old English, possibly meaning 'smealy' or 'dusty' land. The area is predominantly rural, with a mix of farmland and scattered residential properties. The village is close to the A120 road, which provides access to nearby towns such as Braintree and Chelmsford. There are no major landmarks or attractions within the village itself, but it offers a quiet, countryside setting with a strong sense of local community. The surrounding landscape is typical of Essex, with rolling fields and hedgerows.

School Ratings in Chignall Smealy

There are 51 schools in and around Chignall Smealy. Tanglewood Nursery School, Chelmsford Hospital School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls and King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford are each rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 18 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Chignall Smealy

The average property price is £440K, with semi-detached homes making up the majority of the housing stock at around £412K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Chignall Smealy

Recorded crime levels are higher than the national average. Anti-social behaviour is prevalent across Chignall Smealy, with 105 recorded incidents in May 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Chignall Smealy

Chignall Smealy sits around the middle of the national deprivation scale, according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Employment levels are broadly typical for the area, sitting close to the national average. Household incomes are broadly in line with the national average.

Healthcare in Chignall Smealy

There are 13 GP surgeries within three miles of Chignall Smealy, the nearest being Adult Adhd, Mse (2.1 miles away).

Local Data for Chignall Smealy

Dig deeper into the area around Chignall Smealy 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 9,542 sales

Average Price £440K
£100 , £38.76M
Detached £619K 2,264
Semi £412K 2,534
Terraced £356K 1,967
Flat £230K 2,482

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

28 Primary
7 Secondary
16 Other
Outstanding 6
Good 18
Requires improvement 2

Ofsted ratings for schools in the CM1 postcode area.

Newlands Spring Primary and Nursery School Primary Good 2.1 miles Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary Good 2.2 miles Roxwell Church of England Primary School Primary Good 2.2 miles Chelmer Valley High School Secondary Good 2.4 miles Lawford Mead Primary & Nursery Primary Good 2.5 miles Lift Columbus Not applicable 2.6 miles Tanglewood Nursery School Nursery Outstanding 2.7 miles Parkwood Academy Primary Requires Improvement 2.7 miles Broomfield Primary School Primary Good 2.7 miles St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford Secondary Good 2.8 miles St Pius X Catholic Primary School Primary 2.8 miles Writtle College Limited 16 plus Good 2.9 miles

Household Income in Chignall Smealy ONS 2023

The average total household income in Chignall Smealy is approximately £66,403 a year before tax, 20% above the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £47,428. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.

Chignall Smealy £66,403
England & Wales avg. £55,302

Net (after tax) household income averages £47,428.

Businesses in Chignall Smealy ONS 2025

There are approximately 2,876 active businesses based in Chignall Smealy, around 41 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 90% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 48 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.

2,876 Total businesses
41 Per 1,000 residents
Micro, 0-9 90%
Small, 10-49 8%
Medium, 50-249 1%
Large, 250+ 1%

Deprivation and Employment in Chignall Smealy IMD 2025

Chignall Smealy sits around the national average for deprivation according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Employment and income levels are broadly typical, reflecting a mixed local economy. The area offers a balance of residential and commercial activity common to most parts of England.

Overall Deprivation
7/10
Income
7/10
Employment
7/10
Education
7/10
Health
7/10
Housing
6/10
Living Environment
6/10
Children 0-15 19%
Working age 64%
Older 65+ 17%
13,389 Children (0-15) 19%
44,564 Working Age 64%
12,039 Older (65+) 17%
Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 25.8% of children in income-deprived families
Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 14.7% 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 Chignall Smealy 799 crimes · May 2026

High Crime Area

Chignall Smealy sees higher than average levels of reported crime relative to its population. Violence & sexual offences represents the most frequently recorded category. This pattern is not uncommon in densely populated urban areas and does not necessarily reflect the experience of most residents.

Violence & Sexual Offences 333
Anti-Social Behaviour 105
Shoplifting 85
Public Order 61
Drugs 51
Other Theft 38
Criminal Damage & Arson 30
Other Crime 24
Burglary 19
Vehicle Crime 18
Robbery 13
Weapons 11
Bicycle Theft 6
Theft from Person 5
Local Policing
Essex Chelmsford West 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 3.8 miles
Hatfield Peverel Train Station 7.7 miles
Ingatestone Train Station 7.8 miles
Cressing (Essex) Train Station 8.8 miles
White Notley Train Station 8.9 miles
Braintree Train Station 9.2 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Mashbury 0.6 miles Fanner's Green 0.9 miles Breeds 1.4 miles Chignall St James 1.4 miles Boyton Cross 1.4 miles High Houses 1.8 miles Pleshey 1.9 miles Broad's Green 2 miles Chalk End 2 miles Great Waltham 2.2 miles Roxwell 2.2 miles Blasford Hill 2.5 miles

Local Government

District Chelmsford
County Essex
Ward Waterhouse Farm
Constituency Chelmsford
Parish Chelmsford, unparished area
Region East of England

Home Ownership in Chignall Smealy

Of the 29,018 households in and around Chignall Smealy, 65% are owned, 18% are socially rented and 18% are privately rented. Home ownership here is in line with the England and Wales average of 63%.

Owned 65% Social rented 18% Private rented 18%

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Chignall Smealy

What is the population of Chignall Smealy?
Chignall Smealy has a population of approximately 69,980 residents, based on the latest census figures for the surrounding postcode area.
What is the average house price in Chignall Smealy?
The average property in and around Chignall Smealy sold for about £440,074, based on HM Land Registry Price Paid records. That is around 26% above the England and Wales average of £349,091.
Is Chignall Smealy a deprived area?
Chignall Smealy sits around the national average for deprivation, with an Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 7 out of 10, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived.
What postcodes cover Chignall Smealy?
Chignall Smealy is covered by the CM1 postcode district.
How many schools are there in Chignall Smealy?
There are 12 schools within easy reach of Chignall Smealy, spanning primary, secondary and other phases.
Where is the nearest train station to Chignall Smealy?
The nearest railway station to Chignall Smealy is Chelmsford Train Station, about 3.8 miles away.

Streets in CM1 30 shown View all streets

Abbess Close 1 Acer Grove 2 Acres End 1 Admirals Walk 1 Alamein Road 1 Albany Close 1 Albemarle Link 2 Aldeburgh Way 2 Alick Hornsnell View 1 All Saints Close 1 Alma Drive 2 Alyssum Close 1 Anderson Avenue 2 Andrews Place 3 Anjou Green 1 Anvil Way 1 Apple Court 1 Arbour Lane 3 Armistice Avenue 6 Armours Lane 1 Arnhem Road 1 Arthur Court 1 Arthur Turp Close 1 Arun Close 1 Ashford Place 1 Ashford Road 1 Ashtree Close 1 Ashtree Crescent 1 Ashurst Drive 1 Aster Court 1

Postcodes in CM1 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