What it's like to live in Chichester

Social renting is slightly less common here than nationally: 15.1% of homes in the council area are socially rented, against 17.1% across England. Most of that is housing association stock at 13.1%, with council housing at just 2%. Owner occupation is high at 65.4%.

The biggest social landlords in the area are Martlet Homes with over 5,300 homes, Clarion with around 1,500, then A2Dominion, Home Group and Vivid.

Average weekly social rents in 2024/25 were about £112 for a one bed, £128 for two and £146 for three. The council's housing register held 2,421 households at March 2025, with 403 homes let in 2024-25, which is one reason a mutual exchange is often the quicker route.

There is a good cluster of primary schools close in: St Joseph's Infant School, St Joseph's CE Junior School and St Joseph CE Academy all sit around a third of a mile out, along with St Richard's Catholic Primary School. Parklands Community Primary School is a little further at 0.6 miles. For secondary, Chichester High School is half a mile away and Bishop Luffa CofE Teaching School under a mile.

For younger children, the Chichester Toy Library is under a mile from the centre, and there are several community centres including New Park Community Centre, the Bassil Shippam Centre and Roundabout Youth.

Parks are a real plus. Priory Park is the big one, with Jubilee Gardens, Litten Gardens and the Amphitheatre at Velyn Avenue all within easy reach. Do check catchments directly with West Sussex before you commit to a swap.

Chichester station is about a third of a mile from the centre, so trains are within walking distance for many people in the PO19 area. Fishbourne station is another option a mile and a half out. Chichester bus station sits close to the centre too, with city stops by the Cathedral for shorter hops.

If you drive, you have the coast and the South Downs on your doorstep, but a compact historic centre also means parking is something to think about when you view a property.

On foot, the city is genuinely walkable. Shops, the library, pharmacies and parks are mostly within half a mile of the middle, which matters if you would rather not rely on a car.

For a city of this size, Chichester is well served for nights out and weekends. There are two cinemas: the independent Chichester Cinema at New Park and Cineworld at Chichester Gate. Chichester Jazz Club, Jungle Junction and Annex cover live music and later evenings.

Pubs and places to eat are concentrated in the centre, from The Hole in the Wall and The Dolphin & Anchor to Chichester City Club, The Ivy and Côte.

If you exercise, there is plenty of choice without going far: X GYM Chichester, The Engine Room, Cheer Health, The Body Suite and Reformed Pilates are all within half a mile of the middle. Otherwise the parks do the job for free.

In the wider Chichester council area, 53.8% of adults are in work, a little below the England figure of 57.4%. That partly reflects the older age profile. Unemployment is lower than average at 2.6% against 3.5% nationally, and unemployment-related benefit claims stood at 3.2% of working-age people in August 2026, below the England figure of 4%.

Retail, hospitality and health services are visible in the city centre itself, with the Ben Turner Industrial Estate about a mile out. With the station close to the centre, commuting along the coast or inland by train is realistic if your work is elsewhere.