Chiseldon’s story
24 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Chiseldon’s built-up area.
12% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ChiseldonWiltshire
A village of 2,033 in Wiltshire, South West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Hoos-foos · Public domain
Population
2,033
Census 2021 · Swindon council
Median home
£379K
72 sales in 3 years
Median age
51
27% are 65+ · Wiltshire 19%
Degree level
33%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Chiseldon a good place to live?
Chiseldon has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is hazard risk (A): 0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Its weakest is cost of living (C−): median sale £379,000, 6.9 years of area income; rent £1,096 a month.
What makes Chiseldon stand out
The 3 things Chiseldon does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of the Holy Cross; 4.8 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
27% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Chiseldon grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Chiseldon is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hazard riskAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →WalkabilityC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 57% of towns in EnglandBOpen →Jobs & incomeMean household income £57,222C+Open →SafetyB−Open →HealthLife expectancy 81.3 for men, 83.6 for womenB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 69% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life1.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryDOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Chiseldon.
Who lives here
Chiseldon skews older, with 27% of residents 65 or over, more than in both Wiltshire’s towns and England’s towns
Children under 15 make up 14%, below both Wiltshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). At 51, the median resident of Chiseldon sits in the middle of the age range. Aged 15 to 24: 10% of residents.
51median age
ChiseldonWiltshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
27%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level33%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 96 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Chiseldon | Wiltshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 17% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 27% | 19% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 33% | 31% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Wiltshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsB
Results at Chiseldon’s schools beat 60% of towns in England
Its only school is listed below. At the 3 primary schools within 3 km, 63% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
BSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiseldon Primary & Nursery SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 168 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade C−
Private renting is less common in Chiseldon than in Wiltshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 8%
75% of households own their home, above Wiltshire’s towns (65%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. 72 standard sales inside Chiseldon’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £379,000. Social renters account for 18% of households.
£379Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Chiseldon£379K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £507,000 | 38 |
| Semi-detached | £323,500 | 20 |
| Terraced | £223,750 | 12 |
75%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,096
average private rent a month, Swindon council area
£2,433
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Commuters in Chiseldon travel far: only 21% go under 5 km, fewer than in both Wiltshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 41% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
12% of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train at the census, below Wiltshire’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (27%) alike. Home was the main workplace for 41% of workers at the census. Unemployment benefit claims reached 3.2% of 16 to 64s in 2026.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving85%
On foot6%
Bus3%
Bicycle2%
Underground, tram1%
21%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
41%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£57K
mean household income, before tax
3.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 36% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
A town of 24 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Conservation areas cover just over a fifth of Chiseldon’s land, higher than both Wiltshire’s towns (10%) and England’s towns (7%). The town’s listed buildings include the Church of the Holy Cross, Grade I. Also worth knowing: homes built before 1919 account for 12% of the housing.
24listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II23
Among them · Grade I
- Church of the Holy Cross Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
12%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
118
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Violence is recorded more often in Chiseldon than in Wiltshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 24.9 per 1,000 residents a year
Of all the crimes, 62% were violence and sexual offences. Police recorded 89 crimes inside Chiseldon’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 11 reports of anti-social behaviour. Homes see 9.7 burglaries and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.
24.9violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 25% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual55
Damage & arson10
Public order7
Other theft5
Other crime5
Drugs2
Vehicle crime2
Shoplifting1
Anti-social11
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
24.9
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
89
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
Health
83% of residents say their health is good or very good
Seeing a GP means leaving Chiseldon: the nearest practice is 2.5 miles away. 19% of residents in Chiseldon live with a disability. The nearest A&E to Chiseldon is Great Western Hospital, 1.5 miles away.
83%good or very good healthB−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Chiseldon | Wiltshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.6% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
81.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Census health answers are raw, so younger towns score better on them; for the Health Grade we use age-adjusted figures like life expectancy and early deaths.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Chiseldon Museum and 4 more in and around Chiseldon
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Chiseldon. Best known first.
MuseumMuseumChiseldon Museumin town
FortBarbury Castle4.4 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumRichard Jefferies Museum2.5 km outside town, to the northPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustThe Coombes4.1 km outside town, to the northeastFortFortNidum4.3 km outside town, to the north
FortBarbury Castle4.4 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumRichard Jefferies Museum2.5 km outside town, to the northPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustThe Coombes4.1 km outside town, to the northeastFortFortNidum4.3 km outside town, to the northPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Barbury Castle: Geotrekker72, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Jefferies Museum: Brian Robert Marshall, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chiseldon
15pages on Chiseldon
The big questions
SafetyB−24.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £379K · rent £1,096 a monthHousing22 sold in 12 months · busiest street Carisbrook TerraceSchoolsB1 state schoolHealthB−Life expectancy 81.3 (men), 83.6 (women)Work & commuteC+60% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Chiseldon’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
WanboroughWroughtonStratton St MargaretSwindonAldbourneMarlboroughShrivenham and WatchfieldChiseldon
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiseldon | 2,033 | — | — | C− | B− | B− |
| Wanborough | 1,737 | 2.5 | — | D | A+ | A− |
| Wroughton | 7,276 | 2.6 | B | C | B+ | B− |
| Stratton St Margaret | 20,689 | 4.4 | C+ | B− | C | C+ |
| Swindon | 183,687 | 4.6 | C+ | B | C− | C |
| Aldbourne | 1,686 | 5.4 | — | B− | A | A+ |
| Marlborough | 8,829 | 6.7 | A− | B− | B+ | B+ |
| Shrivenham and Watchfield | 5,353 | 6.9 | B | B | C+ | A |
Wanborough and Aldbourne have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Chiseldon
How many listed buildings are there in Chiseldon?
That is 4.8 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of the Holy Cross.
Is Chiseldon safe?
Burglary was rare, with 1 report in the year.
Is Chiseldon expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £379,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £223,750, semi-detached houses £323,500 and detached houses £507,000.
About Chiseldon
Village in Wiltshire, England
Chiseldon is a built-up area of 2,033 people, in the Swindon council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 2,033 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Swindon
- County
- Wiltshire
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004932
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.