I had to go to Melksham the other weekend to drop my son at a kid’s party.
OP, I wouldn’t…
TBH, neither would I, but I live in Chippenham, which I like as a town, despite some faults of its own. Thing is, the OP isn’t obliged to live in Melksham itself, he’s looking more at the area in general, I think, and even parts of greater Melksham can be appealing, like Semington, which is a separate village, but pretty much self contained being the other side of a bypass, but connected by the Sustrans route 403, and right on the K&A Canal.
There are many of us locals who take the piss out of Melksham, but I think I’d rather live there than Calne, and going out of the town on the A365 towards Shaw isn’t bad, and Whitley and Atworth are quite nice, Melksham Forest puts you out on the cycle route to Lacock…
Actually, I think I prefer Melksham to Trowbridge, given a choice. Worth looking around at places like Seend Cleeve, Berryfield, Broughton Gifford, Beanacre, all fairly close.
Just look at a map, work out the best commute routes, as nothing has been said about employment and distances involved, use of public transport and proximity to stations, etc., which could be a big decider in any choice of house location.
Melksham is likely to be cheaper than Chippenham, because it’s further from the M4, and it’s not on the mainline London/Bristol railway.