Alton (East Hampshire) vs Petersfield

Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.2 miles apart.

Share this comparisonWhatsApp X Facebook Email

The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Alton (east Hampshire) wins on house prices with a 8% gap. Alton (east Hampshire) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alton (east Hampshire) edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

✓

Alton (East Hampshire)

£552,588

Petersfield

£599,506

Crime Rate

Alton (East Hampshire)

43.6

Petersfield

43.6

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Alton (East Hampshire)

100.0%

Petersfield

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

✓

Alton (East Hampshire)

326.7

Petersfield

305.3

EPC Rating

Alton (East Hampshire)

72.5

✓

Petersfield

72.6

Median Income

✓

Alton (East Hampshire)

£37,949

Petersfield

£36,108

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in South East

Property in Petersfield commands an average of £599,506, compared with £552,588 in Alton (east Hampshire) – a difference of 8%. The most affordable entry point in Alton (east Hampshire) is a flat at £197,457, while in Petersfield it is a flat at £242,424.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: flat homes are 19% pricier in Petersfield (£242,424 vs £197,457).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Petersfield prices grew faster — 29% vs 21%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in South East

Residents of Alton (east Hampshire) experience less crime overall, with a rate of 43.6 per 1,000 versus 43.6 per 1,000 in Petersfield. The most common crime category in Alton (east Hampshire) is violent-crime, while in Petersfield it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

Schools & Education

Best for schools in South East

Families may prefer Alton (east Hampshire), where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Petersfield. There are 8 schools in Alton (east Hampshire) and 3 in Petersfield.

Alton (East Hampshire) School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Petersfield School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Alton (East Hampshire)	Petersfield
Total Schools	8	3
Primary	6	2
Secondary	2	1
% Top two bands	100%	100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 326.7 Mbps in Alton (east Hampshire) and 305.3 Mbps in Petersfield. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.3% of premises in Alton (east Hampshire) and 83.7% in Petersfield. Gigabit availability stands at 58.4% in Alton (east Hampshire) and 55.6% in Petersfield.

Alton (east Hampshire) is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (327 vs 305 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Petersfield, scoring 72.6 on average (band C) compared to 72.5 (band C) in Alton (east Hampshire). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,218 in Alton (east Hampshire) and £1,236 in Petersfield. 70.4% of homes in Alton (east Hampshire) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69% in Petersfield.

Alton (east Hampshire) has more energy-efficient housing — 70.4% reach band C or above, vs 69% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £37,948.8 in Alton (east Hampshire) and £36,108 in Petersfield. The median age is 44.5 in Alton (east Hampshire) and 45.8 in Petersfield. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Alton (east Hampshire) and 58.6% in Petersfield. Owner-occupancy is 69.8% in Alton (east Hampshire) versus 69.3% in Petersfield. Alton (east Hampshire) has a population of 17,883 and Petersfield has 14,994.

Indicator	Alton (East Hampshire)	Petersfield
Population	17,883	14,994
Median Age	44.5	45.8
Median Household Income	£37,948.8	£36,108
Employment Rate	61.2%	58.6%
Owner Occupied	69.8%	69.3%
Degree-Level Qualified	40%	41.8%

Location

Loading map...

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Alton (east Hampshire) and Petersfield?

Alton (east Hampshire) and Petersfield are approximately 10.2 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alton (east Hampshire) or Petersfield?

Alton (east Hampshire) is cheaper, with an average house price of £552,588.

Is Alton (east Hampshire) or Petersfield safer?

Alton (east Hampshire) has the lower crime rate at 43.6 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Alton (east Hampshire) or Petersfield?

Alton (east Hampshire) has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Alton (east Hampshire) or Petersfield?

Alton (east Hampshire) has faster average broadband at 326.7 Mbps.

Keep exploring

Related comparisons

Compare Alton (East Hampshire) with other towns

View all towns in South East