Town Pop. 74,148

Living in Chatham: Liveability Score 67/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Chatham scores 67/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, lifestyle stands out most: 90/100 where the typical UK town scores 21/100. Safety falls furthest short: 32/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

No other settlement in the ME1 postcode district scores higher. Chatham leads all 4. That sits 17 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 5% of the towns and villages we score. Also scoring 80 or better: broadband (84) and schools (80). Wider context for the surrounding area: ME1 postcode district.

OUT OF 100

Good

Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Chatham scores 67 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Chatham.

Or compare:

ME1 1AA ME1 2AA ME1 3AA ME1 9EN ME1 ME4 ME5 ME7

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety

126.6 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3

Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months

Violence and sexual offences 3,585 crimes

↑ 45% above national average

Anti-social behaviour 2,030 crimes

↑ 80% above national average

Criminal damage and arson 786 crimes

↑ 56% above national average

Shoplifting 598 crimes

≈ similar to national average

Other theft 576 crimes

↑ 26% above national average

other 1,811 crimes

Highest-crime locations

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1 Petrol Station 519 crimes
2 Barnfield 252 crimes
3 Parking Area 210 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment

Air Quality NO₂ 11.8 · PM2.5 7.8 · PM10 12.3 µg/m³

Green Space 95

Parks Ample 41

Sports Pitches Ample 35

Allotments Adequate 2

Golf Courses Some 1

Tennis Courts Adequate 5

Bowling Greens Adequate 2

Playgrounds Ample 28

Services

Schools

Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 49 in area · 52 within 4km

4Outstanding33Good3Inadequate9Ungraded

Bradfields AcademySpecial · inspected 2022
Outstanding
Fort Pitt Grammar SchoolSecondary · inspected 2022
Outstanding
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
Outstanding
The RowansAlternative provision · inspected 2021
Outstanding
All Saints Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Balfour Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Barnsole Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Brompton-Westbrook Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Chatham GrammarSecondary · inspected 2023
Good
Crest Infant SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare

A&E departmentsMedway Maritime Hospital0.2 mi

Maidstone Hospital4 mi

Basildon University Hospital11.3 mi

Hospital waitsMedway NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi

Routine referral (median)13 wks

Treated within 18 weeks62%

A&E seen within 4 hrs74.7%

8 GP surgeries in area 16 within 4km best 'Good'

GP capacity2,532 patients per GP

11dentists13pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband

Full fibre (FTTP)81.3%

available across Medway

Gigabit-capable · incl. cable

90.8%

Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)

93.5%

Superfast (30+ Mbps)

99.2%

Ofcom Connected Nations · 1,459 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health

Employment rate59.7%

Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+

Economic activity (16+)

Employed59.7%Unemployed3.8%Retired18.5%Student4.4%Other inactive13.6%

Occupation mix

Professional & managerial32.7%Skilled & technical35.8%Routine & elementary31.5%

Highest qualification (16+)

No qualifications20.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)12.3%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.1%Level 3 (A levels)17.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)24.8%Apprenticeship6.1%Other (incl. vocational)3%

Home ownership63.8%

Around the England average for deprivation

Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD

Bills

Council tax Medway · 2026-27

A £1,553

B £1,811

C £2,070

D £2,329

E £2,847

F £3,364

G £3,882

H £4,658

Energy South East England region

Typical bill regional £1,641/yr

Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026

Typical home efficiency local EPC band D

Water Southern Water

Average bill regional £683/yr

Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Chatham 1.7 mi

Gillingham 2.3 mi

Rochester 2.5 mi

J3 M2 1.5 mi

J3 M2 1.8 mi

J4 M2 2.6 mi

Lifestyle

Pubs & Bars Ample 20

Restaurants & Cafes Ample 60

Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 71

Retail Shopping Ample 238

Takeaways Ample 70

Fitness Ample 38

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type	Median price	Sales
All dwellings	£295,000	455
Detached	£448,000	68
Semi-detached	£325,000	136
Terraced	£275,000	202
Flat / Maisonette	£158,500	49

5-year monthly trend

All Detached Semi Terraced Flat

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Frequently asked questions

Is Chatham a nice place to live?

Yes, Chatham is a nice place to live. Our liveability score for Chatham is 67/100, placing it among one of the better-scoring areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Chatham?

Chatham has above-average crime levels. Our safety score is 32/100. There were 9,386 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Chatham?

Among the top-rated schools in Chatham are Bradfields Academy, Fort Pitt Grammar School and Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 49 rated schools in Chatham in total.

What are house prices like in Chatham?

The current median house price in Chatham is £295,000, in line with the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £448,000, semi-detached £325,000, terraced £275,000, flat £158,500. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 11%. There were 455 sales recorded in the past 12 months.