Gloucester Vs Cheltenham

Gloucester Vs Cheltenham

Gloucester or Cheltenham? This debate has raged for years without a clear winner. Both towns, similar in size and located in Gloucestershire, boast unique events and cultures. But which is the better choice for you?

To help you decide, we will compare Gloucester and Cheltenham based on three key factors: living costs, attractions, and crime rates. These factors are crucial considerations for anyone moving to a new area. Let’s dive in and see which town comes out on top.

1. Gloucester Living Costs
2. Cheltenham Living Costs
3. Who Has The Better Living Cost?
4. Things To Do In Gloucester
5. Things To Do In Cheltenham
6. Who Has Better Attractions?
7. Gloucester Crime
8. Cheltenham Crime
9. Which City Is Safer?
10. Conclusion

Gloucester Living Costs

The first factor we’re comparing is living costs. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average housing prices at the moment are £255,000. This was 1.6% higher than the previous year. Monthly rent increased by 2.8%, and in 2024 its average price is £925.

Cheltenham Living Costs

When it comes to Cheltenham’s living costs, the Office of National Statistics reported that there was a 1.4% increase compared to the previous year. In March 2024, the average house price was £330,000. Monthly rent had also increased. Monthly rent had an annual increase of 10.7% and rose to the average price of £1,134.

Who Has The Better Living Cost?

As you can see Cheltenham has higher living costs compared to Gloucester. But this could be because Cheltenham is a busier and livelier city.

Things To Do In Gloucester 

From looking at tripadvisor.co.uk, the top 3 attractions in Gloucester are:

• Gloucester Cathedral
• Jet Age Museum
• Solders of Gloucestershire museum

Things To Do In Cheltenham

While the top 3 attractions for Cheltenham are:

• Walks with Hawks
• Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
• Pittville Park

Who Has Better Attractions?

So, taking a closer look at these attractions, a trend starts to emerge, whilst Gloucester seems to have its roots planted firmly in its rich history and the attraction there. Cheltenham is more appealing to those of a more outdoorsy nature, with the walks with hawks event being something few towns can offer.

It is really dependent on what type of activities you enjoy, if you are more of a history buff and love delving into the rich, deep historical stories of a place, you will find yourself right at home in Gloucester. If you prefer a more in the moment, experience over item type of entertainment, it would appear that Cheltenham has you covered.

Gloucester Crime

Finally, the last thing we will be compared is the crime in the two areas. Let’s start with Gloucester. According to Crimerate, Gloucester is within the top ten most dangerous areas in Gloucestershire.

In 2023, the area had an overall crime rate of 131 crimes committed per 1,000 people. This was 87% higher than Gloucester’s own crime rate which came in at 72 crimes per 1,000 people. When it comes to the UK as a whole, Gloucester is ranked as the 457th dangerous place.

In 2023, the most common crime is Gloucester was violence and sexual offences. Violent crimes were committed over 6,654 times and had an overall crime of 61.

Cheltenham Crime Rate

Next, let’s take a look at Cheltenham’s crime rate. Crimerate reported that Cheltenham was ranked as the safest major town in Gloucestershire.

During 2023, Cheltenham’s overall crime rate was 111 crimes per 1,000 people. This was 55% higher than Gloucestershire’s own crime rate. In the whole of the UK, Cheltenham is viewed as the 768^th most dangerous location.

The most frequent crime committed in Cheltenham was violent and sexual offences. During 2023, these types of offences were committed over 3,957 times – giving it a crime rate of 45.

Which City Is Safer?

Although both cities’ overall crime rate was higher than Gloucestershire’s own; if we are directly comparing the two cities, then Cheltenham is definitely the safer option.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no definitive right or wrong when it comes to picking from these two towns, generally, however, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, Gloucester is the place to go, but with a bit more to spend than it becomes an open game as both features there own attractions.

To stay updated with all the latest South West news, head over to our news page where you will find articles about how safe Gloucester really is and what crime in the South West is really like.