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Bowerhill
vs Melksham Forest

Melksham Forest has the younger population: 16% of residents are aged 15–29, against 16% in Bowerhill. Homes in Bowerhill sold for a median of £325,000, 23% above Melksham Forest. Bowerhill has more green space nearby (13% within 500 m, against 10%).

Map of Wiltshire with Bowerhill highlighted
Bowerhill
119 postcodes
Map of Wiltshire with Melksham Forest highlighted
Melksham Forest
128 postcodes
Map of Wiltshire
Wiltshire
city average

People

Bowerhill has 4,330 residents in 1,764 households; Melksham Forest has 5,288 in 2,324. Melksham Forest has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 24%, 4.4 percentage points more than Bowerhill (Wiltshire: 22%). Melksham Forest has the higher share of people living alone: 33%, 11.2 percentage points more than Bowerhill (Wiltshire: 28%).

4,330Residents (2021)
5,288Residents (2021)
510,333Residents (2021)
1,764Households
2,324Households
215,081Households
16.1%Aged 15–29
16.4%Aged 15–29
15.7%Aged 15–29
19.4%Aged 65 and over
23.8%Aged 65 and over
21.9%Aged 65 and over
22.0%Living alone
33.2%Living alone
28.2%Living alone

Homes and prices

The most common type of home is detached houses in Bowerhill (49%) and semi-detached houses in Melksham Forest (47%). Bowerhill has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 76%, 16.3 percentage points more than Melksham Forest (Wiltshire: 67%). The share of private renting is about the same in both (12% and 13%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £325,000 in Bowerhill and £265,000 in Melksham Forest, against £320,000 across Wiltshire.

£325,000Median sale price
£265,000Median sale price
£320,000Median sale price
76.4%Owner-occupied
60.1%Owner-occupied
66.8%Owner-occupied
11.7%Private renting
12.5%Private renting
17.4%Private renting
11.8%Social renting
27.0%Social renting
14.5%Social renting
48.8%Detached houses
15.1%Detached houses
35.2%Detached houses
24.3%Semi-detached houses
47.2%Semi-detached houses
31.8%Semi-detached houses
20.8%Terraced houses
24.1%Terraced houses
20.7%Terraced houses
5.4%Flats
10.7%Flats
8.9%Flats

Surroundings

Bowerhill has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 13%, 2.9 percentage points more than Melksham Forest (Wiltshire: 19%). A typical postcode has 41 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Bowerhill, and 64 in Melksham Forest. The typical postcode is 379 m from the nearest school in Bowerhill and 577 m in Melksham Forest. The typical postcode is 3,008 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Bowerhill and 1,238 m in Melksham Forest. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 81% of premises in Bowerhill and 93% in Melksham Forest.

12.8%Green space within 500 m
9.9%Green space within 500 m
19.1%Green space within 500 m
41Services within 15 min (median)
64Services within 15 min (median)
28Services within 15 min (median)
379 mNearest school (median)
577 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
3.0 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
1.2 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
0Postcodes in flood risk areas
10Postcodes in flood risk areas
1,482Postcodes in flood risk areas
80.8%Gigabit broadband (premises)
93.4%Gigabit broadband (premises)
75.7%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 50 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Bowerhill and 111 in Melksham Forest, against 62 across Wiltshire. Police.uk records crimes by approximate location, not by where victims or offenders live. Busy streets, shops, stations and nightlife record more. Figures are counts, not a measure of personal risk.

50Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
111Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
62Recorded crime per 1,000 residents

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS) · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data · official school registers · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Environment Agency · data.police.uk, 12 months to Aug 2026 · Ofcom Connected Nations

In brief.

Each ward in a few lines, from its own page.

Bowerhill

Bowerhill is one of 98 wards in Wiltshire, home to 4,330 people in 1,764 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £325,000 over the past two years, in line with the Wiltshire median. On average 13% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 33% below the Wiltshire average.

Melksham Forest

Melksham Forest is one of 98 wards in Wiltshire, home to 5,288 people in 2,324 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £265,000 over the past two years, 17% below the Wiltshire median. On average 10% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 48% below the Wiltshire average.

More comparisons.

Bowerhill and Melksham Forest next to other wards of Wiltshire.

Bowerhill vs Melksham EastBowerhill vs Melksham SouthBowerhill vs Melksham Without West & RuralMelksham Forest vs Melksham EastMelksham Forest vs Melksham SouthMelksham Forest vs Melksham Without North & ShurnholdAll wards of Wiltshire