Herne Bay — A boat floating on top of a body of water

Area guide · Canterbury

Living in Herne Bay

A snapshot of life in Herne Bay, South East — house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more, drawn straight from official UK datasets.

Herne Bay: Photo by Inés Abella on Unsplash

At a glance

Herne Bay is a town in Canterbury, South East with a population of 24,873. The average house price is £355,546 and the overall crime rate is 80.2 per 1,000 residents.

Where Herne Bay ranks

Population

24,873

Avg House Price

£355,546

Crime Rate

80.2/1k

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

100%

Avg Download Speed

426 Mbps

EPC Rating

Median Income

£29,518

Median Age

44.3

House Prices (2025)

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Herne Bay's detached homes (£442,491) command roughly 2.7× the price of a flat (£164,413).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Herne Bay prices have risen 9% over the last 9 years (£326,516 → £355,546).

Property Type	Average	Median	Sales Count
Detached	£442,491	£420,000	246
Semi-Detached	£325,950	£322,881	208
Terraced	£302,038	£293,500	82
Flat	£164,413	£160,500	82

Crime & safety

The overall crime rate in Herne Bay is 80.2 per 1,000 residents.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Most common offence in Herne Bay: violent crime (36% of all recorded crimes).

Schools & Education

School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

School Details

Total Schools	4
Primary	4
Secondary	0
% Top two bands	100%

Schools in this area

School	Phase	Rating
Hampton Primary School	Primary	No rating available
Herne Bay Infant School	Primary	No rating available
Herne Bay Junior School	Primary	Good
Reculver Church of England Primary School	Primary	No rating available

Broadband & Connectivity

Herne Bay averages 426 Mbps — 326% above the typical UK download speed.

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Most Herne Bay homes sit at band C on the EPC scale. 64% of homes reach band C or above.

Average EPC Rating	C
Average EPC Score	72
% Rated C or Above	64%
Avg Energy Cost (per year)	£1,097

Demographics & Economy

Population	24,873
Median Age	44.3
Median Household Income	£29,518
Employment Rate	49.8%
Owner Occupied	64.8%
Degree-Level Qualified	33.1%

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the average house price in Herne Bay?

The average house price in Herne Bay is £355,546 based on Land Registry sales in 2025.

What is the cheapest type of property to buy in Herne Bay?

The most affordable entry point in Herne Bay is a flat, with an average price of £164,413.

Is Herne Bay a safe place to live?

Herne Bay has a recorded crime rate of 80.2 per 1,000 residents. Whether that feels "safe" depends on the comparison — see how it stacks up against nearby towns in the rankings below.

How are the schools in Herne Bay?

Herne Bay has 4 schools in total, with 100% rated in the top two inspection bands by the relevant inspectorate.

What broadband speeds are available in Herne Bay?

Average broadband download speeds in Herne Bay are around 426 Mbps. Superfast (30 Mbps+) coverage reaches 97.1% of premises.

How big is Herne Bay?

Herne Bay is a settlement in Canterbury with a population of approximately 24,873.

Most compared with

How does Herne Bay stack up against its neighbours?

Aylesham

Herne Bay

House price: £343,767 · £355,546
Crime rate: 78.1 · 80.2
Distance: 10.3 mi

Broadstairs

Herne Bay

House price: £414,686 · £355,546
Crime rate: 103.8 · 80.2
Distance: 12.9 mi

Canterbury

Herne Bay

House price: £454,813 · £355,546
Crime rate: 80.2 · 80.2
Distance: 6.3 mi

Chartham

Herne Bay

House price: £346,417 · £355,546
Crime rate: 80.1 · 80.2
Distance: 9.4 mi

Eastchurch

Herne Bay

House price: £326,627 · £355,546
Crime rate: 87.3 · 80.2
Distance: 12.0 mi

Faversham

Herne Bay

House price: £382,930 · £355,546
Crime rate: 86.9 · 80.2
Distance: 11.0 mi

Looking for somewhere different? Browse all towns in South East or start a fresh comparison from the homepage.