Area report
Is Cheshunt a good place to live?
Broxbourne, East of England, England
Report completeness: 100%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Cheshunt scores 56 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is education, scoring 61 against the English median of 39; its biggest shortfall is cost of living, 31 against 71.
- Nearest scored area: Enfield, about 4 miles away, scoring 49.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 100 per cent: categories without data are excluded rather than estimated.
How detailed is this report?
Open data is published at different levels of detail, and this report always uses the most granular level available rather than pretending otherwise.
- Point-level for this exact location: Weather (from the Met Office Heathrow station, 38 km away); Crime (recorded within about one mile of this exact point); Lifestyle (amenities within about 2 km of this exact point); Healthcare (facilities within about 2 km, hospitals within about 8 km); Transport (stops within 800 m and the nearest railway station); Air quality (the 1 km grid cell containing this point).
- Council-level, covering all of Broxbourne: Cost of living, Affordability, Housing, Employment, Broadband, Education. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.
Research this area further with trusted open data: police.uk street-level crime map, HM Land Registry sold prices, ONS local area profiles, Ofcom broadband checker. This report is open-source intelligence: everything is built from published government and public datasets you can check yourself.
Affordability
Source: HM Land RegistryWith a ten per cent deposit, the average Cheshunt home needs borrowing of 9.4 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, beyond the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so it takes a second income or a larger deposit. Try your own figures below.
Guidance only, using standard lending multiples and typical outgoings. Not a mortgage offer or financial advice. TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; always seek independent professional advice before financial decisions.
Housing
Source: HM Land RegistryUK House Price Index for Broxbourne, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukAll recorded crime by type
| Category | Recorded (2026-08) |
|---|---|
| Violent crime | 96 |
| Anti social behaviour | 68 |
| Shoplifting | 58 |
| Other theft | 22 |
| Criminal damage arson | 20 |
| Public order | 17 |
| Vehicle crime | 8 |
| Drugs | 7 |
| Burglary | 6 |
| Possession of weapons | 4 |
| Other crime | 4 |
| Bicycle theft | 3 |
| Theft from the person | 3 |
| Robbery | 2 |
In 2026-08, 318 crimes were recorded within about a mile of this point in Cheshunt - a busy level of recorded crime, typical of urban centres. The most common headline category was violent crime. City and town centres naturally record more incidents than residential streets, so compare like for like.
Recorded crime within about one mile, 2026-08. Busy centres record more than quiet suburbs because more people pass through them than live there, so compare similar types of place. How safety is scored.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeOutdoor suitability
Cheshunt averages about 1,526 sunshine hours a year, around the middle of the UK range, with relatively low rainfall for the UK (about 645 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 24.2°C and winter nights fall to about 3.6°C.
Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Heathrow station, 38 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for Broxbourne: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.
Schools and education
Source: DfE and devolved governmentsLocal authority average, key stage 4, state-funded schools. Source: Department for Education. Each nation publishes its own measure, so this compares within England only. How education is scored.
Healthcare
Source: OpenStreetMapCounted from OpenStreetMap around this exact point; a nearby GP and pharmacy carry the most weight. How it is scored. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for Broxbourne, via NOMIS. Most UK councils fall between about 62% and 82% employment.
Environment
Source: Defra UK-AIRDefra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.
Transport
Source: DfT NaPTANDfT NaPTAN stops around this exact point. Twelve or more stops within 800 m, and a station within 1 km, each earn full marks.
Cost of living
Source: ONSAverage private rent, from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. Rent stands in for cost of living because it is the largest living cost and the one that varies most between places.
Lifestyle and amenities
Source: OpenStreetMapWhat is nearby
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Food and drink | 39 |
| Shops | 106 |
| Health services | 7 |
| Schools and learning | 24 |
| Parks and sport | 112 |
| Culture and community | 3 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Cheshunt suits
Of the 5 profiles we score, Cheshunt suits remote workers and young professionals equally well, at 59 out of 100.
Cheshunt suits most households about equally: from the bottom 13% for families to the bottom 6% for retirees of the 539 areas we have scored.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | 57 | bottom 13% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Young professionals | 59 | bottom 13% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
| Remote workers | 59 | bottom 12% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Students | 51 | bottom 9% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Retirees | 52 | bottom 6% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Cost of living
- Affordability
- Healthcare
How Cheshunt compares
| Category | Cheshunt | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 31 | 71 | 72 | -40 | bottom 6% |
| Affordability | 29 | 64 | 68 | -35 | bottom 13% |
| Safety | 50 | 52 | 52 | -2 | bottom 40% |
| Weather | 72 | 72 | 72 | 0 | top 47% |
| Employment | 76 | 61 | 59 | +15 | top 9% |
| Housing | 77 | 83 | 83 | -6 | bottom 39% |
| Transport | 66 | 75 | 75 | -9 | bottom 20% |
| Broadband | 95 | 88 | 88 | +7 | top 21% |
| Environment | 80 | 89 | 91 | -9 | bottom 13% |
| Healthcare | 40 | 54 | 52 | -14 | bottom 26% |
| Education | 61 | 39 | 40 | +22 | top 12% |
| Lifestyle | 49 | 56 | 54 | -7 | bottom 37% |
Medians and positions are across the 539 areas in our index. Safety and education are measured differently in each nation, so read those two rows against the England median only.
What Cheshunt does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are education (61, 22 above the median) and employment (76, 15 above the median).
Where it falls short. Cost of living (31, 40 below), affordability (29, 35 below) and healthcare (40, 14 below).
Near Cheshunt, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Cheshunt, 1 scores higher: Harlow (61). Cheshunt scores 56. Harlow is ahead mainly on affordability (+27), while Cheshunt keeps the advantage on education (+24).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enfield | 3.9 miles | Enfield, London, England | 49 | Fair |
| Barnet | 6.6 miles | Barnet, London, England | 46 | Fair |
| Hertford | 6.7 miles | East Hertfordshire, East of England, England | 56 | Good |
| Harlow | 7.5 miles | Harlow, East of England, England | 61 | Good |
| Walthamstow | 7.8 miles | Waltham Forest, London, England | 55 | Good |
| Hatfield | 8.7 miles | Welwyn Hatfield, East of England, England | 55 | Good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welwyn Garden City | Welwyn Hatfield, East of England, England | 55 | 5.6 |
| Redhill | Reigate and Banstead, South East, England | 54 | 6.4 |
| Hemel Hempstead | Dacorum, East of England, England | 57 | 6.5 |
| Camberley | Surrey Heath, South East, England | 58 | 6.8 |
| Leatherhead | Mole Valley, South East, England | 55 | 6.9 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
Crime in Cheshunt: what kind, not just how much
Source: police.ukWhat is distinctive about the mix here: shoplifting makes up 18 per cent of recorded crime here against 11 per cent typically. Shares are the useful comparison because they are unaffected by how busy an area is, which is the thing that otherwise dominates a raw crime count.
| Offence type | Count | Share | Typical share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 96 | 30.2% | 34.0% | -3.8 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 68 | 21.4% | 17.9% | +3.5 |
| Shoplifting | 58 | 18.2% | 10.5% | +7.7 |
| Other theft | 22 | 6.9% | 5.6% | +1.3 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 20 | 6.3% | 7.0% | -0.7 |
| Public order | 17 | 5.3% | 7.4% | -2.1 |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 2.5% | 2.9% | -0.4 |
| Drugs | 7 | 2.2% | 2.5% | -0.3 |
318 offences recorded within about a mile of this point in August 2026, from police.uk. Counts are of offences reported to the police, so they reflect both crime and the willingness to report it. "Typical share" is the median across the areas in our index that have a breakdown, which is England and Wales only: Police Scotland does not publish to police.uk.
What a home in Cheshunt actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Cheshunt is £406,678, 50 per cent above the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £40,668, repaying the rest costs about £2,358 a month, £683 more than renting at the local average of £1,675, and needs a household income of about £81,300 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £406,678 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +0.4%, rising |
| Against our index median | 50% above the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £40,668 |
| 15% deposit | £61,002 |
| Price to earnings | 10.4 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £2,358 on a £366,010 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £683 more than the £1,675 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £81,300 a year at 4.5 times income |
Council-wide average across all property types; the multiple uses UK median full-time earnings (April 2025 (ONS ASHE)). Illustrative arithmetic, not a mortgage assessment or financial advice; TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Air quality in Cheshunt, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 7.8, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 but above the World Health Organization guideline of 5, as in most of Britain. Nitrogen dioxide, at 12.4, is well inside the UK limit of 40 but above the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Cheshunt | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 7.8 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 12.4 | 40 | 10 | Inside the UK limit, above the WHO guideline |
Neighbourhood background levels from the Defra 1 km model; readings beside a busy road are higher. UK figures are the legal limit (NO₂) and 2040 target (PM2.5); WHO figures are health guidelines, not law.
Questions about Cheshunt
Is Cheshunt a good place to live?
Cheshunt has an overall liveability score of 56 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 100% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on broadband and housing. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Cheshunt?
About 318 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of Cheshunt in 2026-08 (police.uk), giving a safety score of 50 out of 100. Town and city centres naturally record more than residential streets.
What is the weather like in Cheshunt?
Cheshunt averages 1,526 sunshine hours and about 645 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 72 out of 100. Summer highs average 24.2°C and winter lows 3.6°C. Based on the Met Office Heathrow station, 38 km away.
How expensive is it to live in Cheshunt?
Average private rent in the Broxbourne area is about £1,675 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Cheshunt a cost-of-living score of 31 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Cheshunt?
The average property price in Broxbourne is about £406,678 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +0.4% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is Cheshunt safe?
Cheshunt scores 50 out of 100 for safety - fair - measured from recorded crime within about a mile of this point for the latest published month (police.uk). That puts it in the bottom 40% of every area in our index. A safety score is a comparison with other areas rather than a guarantee about a street. Town and city centres record more crime than residential suburbs largely because more people pass through them, so compare places of a similar type before drawing a conclusion.
Can I afford to buy a house in Cheshunt?
The average property in Broxbourne costs about £406,678, which is 10.4 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 29 out of 100. Mainstream lenders usually cap borrowing at around four to four and a half times income, so a ratio above that generally means a larger deposit, a second income or a cheaper property than the local average. With a ten per cent deposit, repaying the rest costs about £2,358 a month at 6% over 25 years, £683 more than the £1,675 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Cheshunt?
About 99.5% of premises in Broxbourne can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 92.3% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 95 out of 100 (Ofcom Connected Nations). These are council-area availability figures - the share of premises able to order each service, not the speed any single line achieves - so check the exact address with the Ofcom broadband checker before committing to it.
What is the job market like in Cheshunt?
83.3% of 16 to 64 year olds in Broxbourne are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 76 out of 100. UK local authorities typically range from about 62% to 82%. This is a whole-authority figure, so it describes the local labour market rather than any one town within it.
Are the schools good in Cheshunt?
Broxbourne records 51.7 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 61 out of 100. Each nation publishes its own attainment measure and they are not interchangeable, so education scores compare within England, Scotland or Wales and not across them. Attainment is published for the whole council or county rather than for a school catchment, so check individual schools with the inspectorate before deciding.
What is the air quality like in Cheshunt?
For the 1 km grid square containing Cheshunt, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 7.84 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 12.44 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 80 out of 100; an area meeting both guideline levels scores 100. These are modelled background concentrations for the square, not a reading taken at the roadside.
What is there to do in Cheshunt?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 291 mapped amenities, including 39 places to eat and drink, 106 shops, 112 parks and sports facilities and 3 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 49 out of 100. Counts come from OpenStreetMap and are measured at this exact location rather than averaged across the council, so they reflect how well served this particular spot is. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Are there GPs and dentists near Cheshunt?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 2 GP surgeries, 2 pharmacies and 2 dentists. 6 hospitals are within about eight kilometres. That gives a healthcare score of 40 out of 100. Facilities are counted from OpenStreetMap and the score describes how close services are, not waiting times, capacity or clinical quality.
Does Cheshunt have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Theobalds Grove Rail Station, about 1.3 km away, and there are 24 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 66 out of 100. Stops come from the DfT NaPTAN dataset and are counted for this exact point, so the figure measures access rather than how frequently anything runs.
Which council area is Cheshunt in?
Cheshunt is in the Broxbourne local authority, East of England, England. It falls within the Cheshunt South and Theobalds ward and the Broxbourne parliamentary constituency. Cost of living, housing, affordability, employment, broadband and education figures in this report are published at local-authority level, so every postcode and town inside Broxbourne shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Cheshunt a good place for remote workers?
Cheshunt scores 59 out of 100 on our remote workers profile, which is weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. That is 3 points above its general score of 56, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-remote-workers/.
Is Cheshunt a good place for young professionals?
Cheshunt scores 59 out of 100 on our young professionals profile, which is weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. That is 3 points above its general score of 56, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently.
How does Cheshunt compare with the rest of England?
Cheshunt sits in the bottom 11% of the 539 UK areas we have scored. The median area in the index scores 67 out of 100. It is furthest above the benchmark for its nation on education and employment. It is furthest below on cost of living, affordability and healthcare. Categories are compared against the area's own nation where the samples allow it, because crime and school attainment are measured differently either side of the border.
What are the best places to live near Cheshunt?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Cheshunt, the highest are Harlow (61 out of 100, about 7 miles away), Hertford (56 out of 100, about 7 miles away) and Walthamstow (55 out of 100, about 8 miles away). Cheshunt itself scores 56. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Cheshunt?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Welwyn Garden City (Welwyn Hatfield, East of England, England), Redhill (Reigate and Banstead, South East, England) and Hemel Hempstead (Dacorum, East of England, England). Similarity is the average gap across every category both areas have data for, with immediate neighbours excluded, so these are places that score alike rather than places that look alike or sit nearby.
What area does this report cover?
Weather, crime, local amenities, healthcare access, transport access and air quality are measured for this exact point. Cost of living, affordability, housing, employment and broadband come from official statistics for the Broxbourne council area, so nearby postcodes and towns in the same council share those figures. Education comes from the local authority, or from the county where attainment is only published at county level. The "How detailed is this report" section explains each level.