South Broomfield
Chelmsford 002 · 5 sub-areas · 8,978 residents
Chelmsford 002 is a residential part of Chelmsford, home to around 8,978 people and skewing noticeably older and more settled than many parts of the city. A typical two-bedroom home lets for around £1,300 a month — slightly above the national median — and nearly eight in ten households here own their property outright or with a mortgage, which is unusually high for an urban neighbourhood.
South Broomfield is a green, lower-density part of Chelmsford — parks within walking distance of most addresses, a slower weekday rhythm, and a population skewed toward longer-tenure households rather than transient renters. Most homes are owner-occupied, so turnover is low and many residents have been here a long time.
Overview
What's it like to live in South Broomfield?
Greenspace is on the doorstep — a park or playing field is within walking distance of most homes; there's effectively nothing within walking distance — eating out, drinking and shopping mean a drive; The streets feel safe by national standards — police-recorded crime is well below the country-wide median; Transport links are limited — a car or e-bike is a practical assumption for most regular trips; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £1,442 a month for a typical home; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 5 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
South Broomfield in Chelmsford
Living in South Broomfield
This part of Chelmsford has the feel of an established, owner-occupied suburb rather than a transient rental neighbourhood. The population is spread fairly evenly across age groups, but the 65-plus share — at around 22% — stands out, giving the area a quieter, more settled character than the city's younger-skewing centre.
On cost, you're looking at rents that sit modestly above the national two-bedroom benchmark of around £1,200 a month. A two-bed here runs roughly £1,300, and a three-bed around £1,550. That's not cheap, but it's a long way from London pricing, and you're getting a largely owner-occupied suburb with low unemployment and good greenspace access. Rents have risen about 7.7% in the past year, in line with the broader Essex market pressure.
The people who live here are predominantly long-term residents. Nearly 79% own their home, and only around 12% are private renters — one of the lower private-rental shares you'll find in any part of Chelmsford. Around 40% hold a degree-level qualification, above the national average, and the area scores well on the deprivation index — sitting in the least deprived 20% of neighbourhoods in England.
Practically speaking, the nearest rail station is roughly 2,500 metres away — around a 30-minute walk, or a short drive — which makes the area more car-dependent than somewhere right on top of a station. That said, 41% of residents work from home, which takes the edge off the commute picture considerably. The nearest major greenspace is under 400 metres away for a typical resident, and just under half of residents live within easy walking distance of green space. See the streets and sub-areas below for more.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Chelmsford 002 a nice place to live?
- For settled owner-occupiers, yes — it's a low-deprivation, greenspace-accessible suburb with strong broadband and a manageable London commute. It's quieter and more residential than Chelmsford's centre. The trade-off is that rents consume a high share of take-home pay, making it a better fit for buyers than long-term renters.
- What is the rent in Chelmsford 002?
- A one-bedroom runs around £1,060 a month, a two-bedroom around £1,300, and a three-bedroom around £1,550. These are estimates scaled from council-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose roughly 7.7% in the past year, in line with broader Essex market trends.
- Is Chelmsford 002 safe?
- Crime runs at about 80 incidents per 1,000 residents annually — roughly on par with the UK national average. The area sits in the least deprived 20% of English neighbourhoods, which tends to correlate with lower rates of acquisitive crime and anti-social behaviour day-to-day.
- What's the commute from Chelmsford 002 to London?
- The public-transport journey to London takes just under an hour — around 59 minutes. The nearest rail station is about 2,500 metres away, so most residents drive or cycle to it rather than walk. Around 41% of residents work from home, so many avoid the commute entirely.
- Who lives in Chelmsford 002?
- Predominantly long-term, owner-occupying households — nearly 79% own their home. The population skews slightly older, with around 22% aged 65 or over. Around 40% hold a degree-level qualification. Only around 12% are private renters, making this one of the lower-rental-share neighbourhoods in Chelmsford.
- What schools are near Chelmsford 002?
- There are 79 schools within 2km of typical residents, so choice isn't an issue. Around 42% are rated Good or Outstanding — below the national share of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding school is about 1.6km away. It's worth checking individual school data for your specific street before committing.
- How affordable is Chelmsford 002 for renters?
- It's a stretch. Rent takes up around 62% of average take-home pay for a typical resident salary of around £35,800 a year. At a median house price of roughly £436,000, saving a deposit takes just over six years on that income. The area makes more financial sense for buyers than long-term renters.