What it's like to live in Chesham

Social renting is less common here than nationally. Across Buckinghamshire, 13% of homes are socially rented, split between 2.6% council and 10.3% housing association, compared with 17.1% in England. Seven in ten homes are owned outright or on a mortgage. That means fewer social homes overall, and swaps can take patience.

The main social landlords across the council area are Fairhive Homes, Paradigm Homes, Red Kite Community Housing, London & Quadrant and Hightown Housing Association.

Average weekly social rents in Buckinghamshire for 2024/25 were about £117 for a one bed, £134 for two beds and £151 for three. Your own rent will depend on your landlord and property, so always confirm the figure before agreeing anything.

There is a decent spread of schools close in. Thomas Harding Junior School is about 0.2 miles from the centre, with Elmtree Infant School at 0.6 miles and Waterside Primary Academy at 0.8 miles. Our Lady's RC Primary School is around a mile out, and Brushwood Junior School 1.2 miles.

For older children, Chiltern Hills Academy is roughly half a mile away, and Dr Challoner's Grammar School is 1.9 miles off in Amersham. Buckinghamshire still runs a selective system, so it is worth understanding how that works before you move.

For younger children and parents, Newtown Family Hub is about 0.7 miles away and Chesham Youth Centre sits near the centre. Parks are the real gift: The Duck Bank, Lowndes Park and Meades Water Gardens are all within a quarter of a mile.

Chesham is walkable in the way older towns often are. The shops, library, chemists and parks all sit within about half a mile of the centre, so plenty of trips can be done on foot if you live centrally. Hills are part of the deal here, so bear that in mind.

Buses run from Broadway stops A and B in the middle of town, with further stops near the police station and fire station. That is the main public transport within the town itself.

For trains, the nearest station in range is Amersham, about 2.1 miles away. That is a bus ride or a short drive rather than a stroll for most people. If you drive, the Chilterns road network links Chesham to Amersham and the surrounding villages easily enough, though the town centre can get tight at busy times.

The Elgiva Theatre, about a third of a mile from the centre, is the town's main venue for shows and films. Chesham Library is close by, and Chapter Two Community Bookshop sits right in the middle of town.

Pubs are plentiful for a town this size. Trekkers Bar, Mad Squirrel Tap, The George & Dragon, the Red Lion and Vault 17 are all in or beside the high street. For a bigger night out, The Blue Ball and Amersham Rock'n'Roll Club are around 2.4 miles away.

If you like being active, there is Welcome Gym, The Studio Chesham, HART CrossFit and Chesham Moor within about half a mile. The Chess Valley Recreation Area and Chesham Bois Wood are the places people head for walks and dog runs.

Buckinghamshire does well on employment. Across the council area, 61.6% of adults are in work, above the England figure of 57.4%, and unemployment sits at 2.8% against 3.5% nationally. Benefit claims tied to unemployment ran at 3% of working-age people in August 2026, below the 4% England figure.

That said, these are county-wide numbers and cover a large, prosperous area of 553,078 people, so they will not reflect every street in Chesham.

Locally, work tends to come from the town's own shops, schools, care and hospitality, plus the medical practices such as Chess Medical Centre. Many people here commute out, and Amersham station about two miles away is the usual route for that. It is worth checking journey times and costs carefully before committing.