ChathamKent

Per resident, Chatham sees more crime than 95% of UK towns

Town centres with shops, stations and nightlife record more crime per resident: police.uk counts crimes where they happen, not where victims live.

Over the year to August 2026, 7,934 offences were reported in Chatham, along with 2,037 incidents of anti-social behaviour. For its size, Chatham records more crime per resident than four fifths of the 207 UK towns and cities of 50,000 or more. Also worth knowing: there were 22.9 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), higher than both Kent’s towns (9.3) and England’s towns (7.8). Of all the crimes, 46% were violence and sexual offences.

Results at Chatham’s schools trail 62% of towns in England

Of its 30 schools, three are shown below, each with the reason. Swingate Primary School’s results beat 95% of schools in England like it. Attainment 8 at the town’s 6 secondary schools averages 42.6, and 39% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.

Life expectancy in Chatham is shorter than in 87% of UK towns

10 GP practices serve the town; 62% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. The nearest A&E to Chatham is Medway Maritime Hospital, 1.6 miles away. At the census, 5.4% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, above Kent’s towns (5.1%) and close to England’s towns (5.2%).

Chatham’s heritage list runs to 103 buildings, 11 of them Grade I

The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.

For its size, Chatham has 13 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below Kent’s towns (53) and England’s towns (39) alike. Its listed buildings include the Former Commissioner's House and Attached Staff Accommodation, Grade I. It has 2 registered historic parks and gardens.

5.1% of 16 to 64s in Chatham claim unemployment benefits, more than in Kent’s towns and across England’s towns

The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 24% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.

Nearly a quarter of workers worked mainly from home, lower than both Kent’s towns (30%) and England’s towns (31%). About nearly a fifth of its commuters stay in Chatham for work. For every resident in work, Chatham has 0.5 jobs.

Chatham gets a B− for cost of living grade

The £280,000 median rests on 2,525 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026). Private rents average £1,244 a month across the Medway council area. 21% of households rent privately.

Children make up 21% of Chatham, above Kent’s towns and England’s towns

The 65-and-over age group makes up 15% of residents. Chatham has a median age of 37.6. Nearly a quarter of adults hold a degree, lower than both Kent’s towns (29%) and England’s towns (34%).