Moving to a new town or city can be daunting when you don't know the area, so we've compiled a list of the very best and worst places to move to in Swindon.

Whether you're looking to buy a four-bedroom house or rent a single flat, crime rates and affordability are two of the main factors to be considered, so here are the safest and most affordable areas in town.

Safest neighbourhoods in Swindon

According to data from Crimes In My Area, 21,404 crimes were committed in Swindon in 2022, which was a 4.17 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

The most common type of crime reported was violence and sexual offences which made up 34.9 per cent of incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour which made up 22.5 per cent.

But this doesn't mean you can't stay safe in Swindon. Of the 20 wards in the town, we've compiled a list of the 10 safest, according to 2022 data.

1. Covingham and Dorcan

2. Haydon Wick

3. Shaw

4. Chiseldon and Lawn

5. Priory Vale

6. St Andrews

7. Wroughton and Wichelstowe

8. Old Town

9. Blunsdon and Highworth

10. Liden, Eldene and Park South

Least safe neighbourhoods in Swindon

Areas which had the most amount of crime and were considered the 'least safe' places to live in Swindon in 2022 were Central Swindon, Eastcott, and Mannington and Western.

Gorse Hill, Pinehurst and Penhill also made it into the top five for most crimes reported in 2022, although these areas had significantly less crime than Central Swindon.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: The areas of Swindon with the highest crime rates in 2022.The areas of Swindon with the highest crime rates in 2022. (Image: CrimeInMyArea)

Most affordable neighbourhoods in Swindon

Although it would seem easy to pick the neighbourhood with the lowest crime rate to live in, low crime rate tends to also cause house prices to be hiked up the most, while houses are cheaper in areas considered 'unsafe'.

For those looking to buy a house in Swindon, 2023 data from house price monitor NiceAreas shows that the cheapest house prices can be found in the following areas.

1. Central Swindon

2. Penhill and Upper Stratton

3 Toothill and Westlea

4. Gorse Hill and Pinehurst

5. Walcot and  Park North

6. Rodbourne Cheney

7. Haydon Wick

8. Wroughton and Wichelstowe

9. Covingham and Dorcan

10. Liden, Eldene and Park South

The average house price in Swindon's cheapest area was £125,000 in 2023, and then prices move upwards as the list goes on.

It should be noted that all 'average price' information does not take into account whether the area mostly consisted of one-bedroom or four-bedroom houses, and so this list will vary slightly depending on your needs.