Chelmsford

Key figures

21 of 21 measures have a published figure for Chelmsford. Each figure is the publisher’s own, for the period named beside it.

Why the population is changing

The ONS breaks the year’s population change into its components (Year to mid-2025). These are its published figures for Chelmsford, not our estimates.

• 1,722 births and 1,636 deaths: natural change added 86 people.
• Moves within the UK (net) added 1,345 people.
• International migration (net) added 833 people.
• The ONS’s balancing item (“Other”, mainly armed forces and prisoner adjustments) reduced the figure by 22.
• Altogether the population grew by 2,242 over the year (the sum of the components above — our addition of the ONS’s published figures).

The ONS has not yet published the Mid-2025 population level itself, so the closing bar is the Mid-2024 level plus the components above — the same addition as the total.

Each component is a series in its own right: births, deaths, moves within the UK and international migration.

Population change, year by year

The same decomposition for every published year in Chelmsford: births and deaths, net moves within the UK, net international migration, and the ONS’s balancing item.

Years to mid-2024 are the ONS’s rebased back series, made consistent with Census 2021 — its figures deliberately differ from the estimates published at the time. Every cell is a published figure; the total is the sum of net moves, natural change and other, which is our addition. A dash is a year the source does not publish for this area, never a zero.

Rates per 1,000 residents

The same population flows, adjusted for Chelmsford’s size, so they can be compared with any other area’s: each year’s flow divided by the population that mid-year, times 1,000.

A Civometry calculation, not a published figure: ONS publishes these flows and the population, but not the rates. Net rates are signed — below zero means more left than arrived. Rates are crude, not age-standardised, so areas with very different age structures still differ for reasons size cannot remove. Each link shows the full recipe and every year.

Pay against housing costs

How pay in Chelmsford moved over its latest published year, beside how the cost of buying and renting moved over theirs. The three series come from different publishers on different timetables, so each row covers its own year, named in the row.

Pay rose faster than both the house price and the rent over these periods.

Levels are the publishers’ own (ONS ASHE median annual pay for full-time employees living in the area; HM Land Registry UK House Price Index; ONS Price Index of Private Rents). The percentage changes are Civometry arithmetic on the two published values in each row. Pay is a survey of employees and says nothing about a particular household; one year is weather, not climate.

Who runs the council

Liberal Democrat (2026) — Liberal Democrat 31, Conservative 19, Other and independent 5, Reform UK 2 of 57 seats.

Since 2016: Conservative (2016–2018); Liberal Democrat (2019–2026)

Not an official statistic. Compiled by Open Council Data UK, an independent project, not by any government department: no official body publishes council political control. Councils are matched to GSS codes by name here; county councils and districts abolished before the current boundaries are not included. This is the one dataset on the site that is not read from an official publication, and every page that shows it says so. Source: Open Council Data UK (CC0).

Between the censuses

How Chelmsford’s religion, ethnic-group and country-of-birth make-up changed between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, category by category. The two censuses compared.

Crime

15,347 recorded offences in the 12 months to June 2026, 80.5 per 1,000 residents. Full crime profile, by category and month.

Deprivation, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

The English Indices of Deprivation (IoD2025) rank every one of Chelmsford’s 113 neighbourhoods against the rest of England, where rank 1 is the most deprived. Each neighbourhood’s page carries its full rank and domain deciles.

Most deprived here: Chelmsford 006A (rank 4,328), Chelmsford 006E (rank 5,263), Chelmsford 023B (rank 5,940). Least deprived: Chelmsford 004F (rank 33,335), Chelmsford 002D (rank 33,306), Chelmsford 012D (rank 33,271).

Published for this area

• Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 16.0% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£46,179 a year
• Median annual pay, female full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 28.4% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£42,936 a year
• Median annual pay, male full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 6.7% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£46,830 a year
• Asylum seekers supported in each council area2026 Q2 · down 58.1% on a year earlier · Home Office, published 27 August 2026143 people
• Families in B&Bs beyond the six-week legal limit2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 20261 households
• Births by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 20261,722 people
• Census 2011 usual residentsCensus 2011 · ONS, published 2 September 2026168,310 people
• Census 2021 usual residentsCensus 2021 · ONS, published 2 September 2026181,523 people
• People claiming unemployment-related benefitsJuly 2026 · up 7.3% on a year earlier · ONS, published 18 August 20263,160 people
• Claimants as a proportion of residents aged 16 to 64July 2026 · up 0.2 points on a year earlier · ONS, published 18 August 20262.7%
• Outstanding council borrowing2026 Q2 · up 23.8% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 3 September 2026£7.2m
• Council investments held2026 Q2 · up 20.0% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 3 September 2026£36.9m
• Earmarked council reservesYear ending March 2025 · up 16.0% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026£17.4m
• Unallocated council reservesYear ending March 2025 · down 2.7% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026£14.2m
• Council spending on servicesYear ending March 2025 · down 6.8% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026£33.5m
• Band D council tax by billing authorityYear ending March 2027 · up 4.2% on a year earlier · MHCLG, published 25 March 2026£2,300 a year
• Deaths by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 20261,636 people
• Dwellings on the Council Tax valuation listsYear ending March 2025 · VOA, published 25 September 202581,760 dwellings
• Mean domestic electricity consumption per meter2024 · DESNZ, published 18 December 20253,801 kWh a year
• Employment deprivation rate2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 20259.2% of working-age residents
• Mean domestic gas consumption per meter2024 · DESNZ, published 5 May 202611,728 kWh a year
• House price annual changeJune 2026 · down 6.2 points on a year earlier · HM Land Registry, published 20 August 2026-1.2%
• Average house priceJune 2026 · down 1.2% on a year earlier · HM Land Registry, published 20 August 2026£383,103
• Households in temporary accommodation2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026589 households
• Households assessed as owed a homelessness duty2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026236 households
• Deprivation: IMD average score2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 202513.1 score
• Deprivation: share of small areas in England's most deprived tenth2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 20250% of the district's LSOAs
• Income deprivation rate2025 · MHCLG, published 17 November 202514.6% of residents
• Net internal migration by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 20261,345 people
• International migration into a local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 20262,095 people
• Net international migration by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026833 people
• International migration out of a local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 20261,262 people
• Births minus deaths by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 202686 people
• Other population change by local authorityYear to mid-2025 · ONS, published 29 July 2026-22 people
• Population by local authorityMid-2024 · up 1.5% on a year earlier · ONS, published 26 September 2025188,803 people
• Private rent annual changeJuly 2026 · down 1.7 points on a year earlier · ONS, published 19 August 20263.3%
• Average private rent a monthJuly 2026 · up 3.4% on a year earlier · ONS, published 19 August 2026£1,442 a month
• People resettled in each council area2021 Q1 · Home Office, published 27 August 20264 people
• Households with children in temporary accommodation2026 Q1 · MHCLG, published 13 August 2026403 households
• Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence2025 · up 11.5% on a year earlier · ONS, published 23 October 2025£878 a week

National figures that apply here

These are not measured for Chelmsford; they are the figure for the nation or the UK, shown because they apply to everyone in it.

• Average Band D council tax (England average)Year ending March 2027 · up 4.9%£2,392 a year
• Unemployment rate (UK)2026 Q2 · up 0.2 points4.9%
• Universal Credit caseload (Great Britain)Year ending March 2025 · up 16.3%5,473,000 households
• Persistent absence (England)2024/25 academic year · down 1.8 points18.1%
• Average annual electricity bill (UK)2025 · down 1.3%£1,069 a year

Then and now

The first and last years published for Chelmsford, and the difference between the two. Both figures are published for this area; the difference is those two numbers subtracted, which you can check by hand.

• 14,6332012→11,7282024

  Mean domestic gas consumption per meter

  In Chelmsford, mean domestic gas consumption per meter fell from 14,633 in 2012 to 11,728 in 2024, a change of 2,905 or 19.9% (DESNZ).

  How this figure was worked out

  11,728 in 2024 − 14,633 in 2012 = −2,905, which is 19.9% of the figure for 2012.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 11,728.44 and 14,633.12, and 11,728.44 − 14,633.12 = 2,904.68.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from DESNZ. Years before the current series come from Mean domestic gas consumption per meter, 2012 onwards, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, mean domestic gas consumption per meter fell from 14,633 in 2012 to 11,728 in 2024, a change of 2,905 or 19.9% (DESNZ).

  Copy with source

• 4,6352012→3,8012024

  Mean domestic electricity consumption per meter

  In Chelmsford, mean domestic electricity consumption per meter fell from 4,635 in 2012 to 3,801 in 2024, a change of 834 or 18.0% (DESNZ).

  How this figure was worked out

  3,801 in 2024 − 4,635 in 2012 = −834, which is 18.0% of the figure for 2012.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 3,801.24 and 4,635.00, and 3,801.24 − 4,635.00 = 833.76.

  13 published years spanning 12 years, from DESNZ. Years before the current series come from Mean domestic electricity consumption per meter, 2012 onwards, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, mean domestic electricity consumption per meter fell from 4,635 in 2012 to 3,801 in 2024, a change of 834 or 18.0% (DESNZ).

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• £1,831Year ending March 2021→£2,300Year ending March 2027

  Band D council tax by billing authority

  In Chelmsford, band D council tax by billing authority rose from £1,831 in the year ending March 2021 to £2,300 in the year ending March 2027, a change of £469 or 25.6%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

  How this figure was worked out

  £2,300 in the year ending March 2027 − £1,831 in the year ending March 2021 = £469, which is 25.6% of the figure for the year ending March 2021.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 2,300.18 and 1,831.19, and 2,300.18 − 1,831.19 = 468.99.

  7 published years spanning 6 years, from MHCLG. Years before the current series come from Band D council tax by billing authority, 2020-21 to 2024-25, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Chelmsford, band D council tax by billing authority rose from £1,831 in the year ending March 2021 to £2,300 in the year ending March 2027, a change of £469 or 25.6%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

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• £28,6292008→£46,1792025

  Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence

  In Chelmsford, median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £28,629 in 2008 to £46,179 in 2025, a change of £17,550 or 61.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  £46,179 in 2025 − £28,629 in 2008 = £17,550, which is 61.3% of the figure for 2008.

  18 published years spanning 17 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence, 2002 to 2023, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Chelmsford, median annual pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £28,629 in 2008 to £46,179 in 2025, a change of £17,550 or 61.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

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• £5512008→£8782025

  Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence

  In Chelmsford, median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £551 in 2008 to £878 in 2025, a change of £327 or 59.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  £878 in 2025 − £551 in 2008 = £327, which is 59.3% of the figure for 2008.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 878.30 and 551.30, and 878.30 − 551.30 = 327.00.

  18 published years spanning 17 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence, 2002 to 2023, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Chelmsford, median weekly pay, full-time employees, by area of residence rose from £551 in 2008 to £878 in 2025, a change of £327 or 59.3%, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (ONS).

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• -38Year to mid-2012→1,345Year to mid-2025

  Net internal migration by local authority

  In Chelmsford, net internal migration by local authority rose from -38 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,345 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,383 or 3639.5% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  1,345 in Year to mid-2025 − -38 in Year to mid-2012 = 1,383, which is 3639.5% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Internal migration net by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, net internal migration by local authority rose from -38 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,345 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,383 or 3639.5% (ONS).

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• 906Year to mid-2012→2,095Year to mid-2025

  International migration into a local authority

  In Chelmsford, international migration into a local authority rose from 906 in Year to mid-2012 to 2,095 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,189 or 131.2% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  2,095 in Year to mid-2025 − 906 in Year to mid-2012 = 1,189, which is 131.2% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration in by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, international migration into a local authority rose from 906 in Year to mid-2012 to 2,095 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 1,189 or 131.2% (ONS).

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• 762Year to mid-2012→1,262Year to mid-2025

  International migration out of a local authority

  In Chelmsford, international migration out of a local authority rose from 762 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,262 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 500 or 65.6% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  1,262 in Year to mid-2025 − 762 in Year to mid-2012 = 500, which is 65.6% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration out by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, international migration out of a local authority rose from 762 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,262 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 500 or 65.6% (ONS).

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• 144Year to mid-2012→833Year to mid-2025

  Net international migration by local authority

  In Chelmsford, net international migration by local authority rose from 144 in Year to mid-2012 to 833 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 689 or 478.5% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  833 in Year to mid-2025 − 144 in Year to mid-2012 = 689, which is 478.5% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from International migration net by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, net international migration by local authority rose from 144 in Year to mid-2012 to 833 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 689 or 478.5% (ONS).

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• 2,030Year to mid-2012→1,722Year to mid-2025

  Births by local authority

  In Chelmsford, births by local authority fell from 2,030 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,722 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 308 or 15.2% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  1,722 in Year to mid-2025 − 2,030 in Year to mid-2012 = −308, which is 15.2% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Births by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, births by local authority fell from 2,030 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,722 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 308 or 15.2% (ONS).

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• 1,373Year to mid-2012→1,636Year to mid-2025

  Deaths by local authority

  In Chelmsford, deaths by local authority rose from 1,373 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,636 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 263 or 19.2% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  1,636 in Year to mid-2025 − 1,373 in Year to mid-2012 = 263, which is 19.2% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Deaths by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, deaths by local authority rose from 1,373 in Year to mid-2012 to 1,636 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 263 or 19.2% (ONS).

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• 657Year to mid-2012→86Year to mid-2025

  Births minus deaths by local authority

  In Chelmsford, births minus deaths by local authority fell from 657 in Year to mid-2012 to 86 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 571 or 86.9% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  86 in Year to mid-2025 − 657 in Year to mid-2012 = −571, which is 86.9% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Natural change by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, births minus deaths by local authority fell from 657 in Year to mid-2012 to 86 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 571 or 86.9% (ONS).

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• 47Year to mid-2012→-22Year to mid-2025

  Other population change by local authority

  In Chelmsford, other population change by local authority fell from 47 in Year to mid-2012 to -22 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 69 or 146.8% (ONS).

  How this figure was worked out

  -22 in Year to mid-2025 − 47 in Year to mid-2012 = −69, which is 146.8% of the figure for Year to mid-2012.

  14 published years spanning 13 years, from ONS. Years before the current series come from Other population change by local authority, 2012 to 2024, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure.

  In Chelmsford, other population change by local authority fell from 47 in Year to mid-2012 to -22 in Year to mid-2025, a change of 69 or 146.8% (ONS).

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• £0m2010 Q1→£7.2m2026 Q2

  Outstanding council borrowing

  In Chelmsford, outstanding council borrowing rose from £0m in 2010 Q1 to £7.2m in 2026 Q2, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

  How this figure was worked out

  £7.2m in 2026 Q2 − £0m in 2010 Q1 = £7.2m.

  The two ends are rounded for display. The published figures are 7.21 and 0.00, and 7.21 − 0.00 = 7.21.

  36 published years spanning 16 years, from MHCLG. Years before the current series come from Outstanding council borrowing, 2010 to 2020, held as a separate series so the two are never mixed inside one figure. Cash terms: these are the amounts as published, not adjusted for inflation.

  In Chelmsford, outstanding council borrowing rose from £0m in 2010 Q1 to £7.2m in 2026 Q2, in cash terms, not adjusted for inflation (MHCLG).

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Compare Chelmsford with another place

Every figure both areas publish, side by side, from its own publisher with the period named:

• Chelmsford and Birmingham
• Chelmsford and Leeds
• Chelmsford and North Yorkshire
• Chelmsford and Somerset
• Chelmsford and Cornwall
• Chelmsford and Buckinghamshire

Or open any two areas as /compare/places/<area>/<area> — the address carries the whole comparison.

Nearby areas

The closest other local authorities, each with its own report card and a side-by-side comparison:

• Basildon · compare
• Braintree · compare
• Brentwood · compare
• Epping Forest · compare
• Maldon · compare
• Rochford · compare

Areas like Chelmsford

The local authorities whose published rents, pay, house prices, council tax and claimant count sit closest to Chelmsford’s, wherever they are in the UK. Computed from the figures, not curated.

• Basingstoke and Deane · compare
• Bracknell Forest · compare
• Rochford · compare
• Trafford · compare
• Broxbourne · compare
• Dartford · compare

Since you moved here

Pick the year you arrived, and see what every series published for Chelmsford said then and says now, with the periods named. Chelmsford since you moved here, or read the whole run year by year.

Where these figures come from

Every figure above is published by the body named here, for the release named here. Figures marked as a Civometry calculation are arithmetic on those published figures and are not official statistics.

Not yet published here

Income, employment, benefits by area, health, education and religion for Chelmsford are on the way where an open official source exists; where one does not, the data gaps register says why. Local claimant counts are behind a login.