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Ashley (New Forest) vs Barton on Sea

Which is better to live in? Distance: 1.9 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Barton On Sea wins on house prices with a 17% gap. Barton On Sea has the lower crime rate of the two.

Avg House Price

Ashley (New Forest)

£559,657

✓

Barton on Sea

£479,998

Crime Rate

Ashley (New Forest)

54.6

✓

Barton on Sea

54.4

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Ashley (New Forest)

100.0%

Barton on Sea

N/A

Avg Download Speed

Ashley (New Forest)

332.8

Barton on Sea

332.8

EPC Rating

Ashley (New Forest)

68.5

Barton on Sea

68.5

Median Income

Ashley (New Forest)

£29,236

Barton on Sea

£29,236

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in South East

Property in Ashley (new Forest) commands an average of £559,657, compared with £479,998 in Barton On Sea – a difference of 17%. The most affordable entry point in Ashley (new Forest) is a semi-detached at £377,723, while in Barton On Sea it is a terraced at £289,470.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: terraced homes are 38% pricier in Ashley (new Forest) (£398,700 vs £289,470).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Ashley (new Forest) prices grew faster — 51% vs 34%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in South East

Residents of Barton On Sea experience less crime overall, with a rate of 54.4 per 1,000 versus 54.6 per 1,000 in Ashley (new Forest). The most common crime category in Ashley (new Forest) is violent-crime, while in Barton On Sea 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

School quality data is not fully available for both Ashley (new Forest) and Barton On Sea. Ashley (new Forest) has 2 schools and Barton On Sea has 0 schools.

Ashley (New Forest) School Inspection Breakdown

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

Barton on Sea School Inspection Breakdown

MetricAshley (New Forest)Barton on Sea
Total Schools20
Primary20
Secondary00
% Top two bands100%N/A

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 332.8 Mbps in Ashley (new Forest) and 332.8 Mbps in Barton On Sea. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Ashley (new Forest) and 97% in Barton On Sea. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Ashley (new Forest) and 60.6% in Barton On Sea.

Ashley (new Forest) is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (333 vs 333 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Ashley (new Forest) leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 68.5 (C), while Barton On Sea averages 68.5 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,278 in Ashley (new Forest) and £1,278 in Barton On Sea. 58.3% of homes in Ashley (new Forest) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.3% in Barton On Sea.

Ashley (new Forest) has more energy-efficient housing — 58.3% reach band C or above, vs 58.3% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £29,236 in Ashley (new Forest) and £29,236 in Barton On Sea. The median age is 51.4 in Ashley (new Forest) and 51.4 in Barton On Sea. Owner-occupancy is 74.2% in Ashley (new Forest) versus 74.2% in Barton On Sea. Employment rates stand at 52.9% in Ashley (new Forest) and 52.9% in Barton On Sea.

IndicatorAshley (New Forest)Barton on Sea
Population7,7306,763
Median Age51.451.4
Median Household Income£29,236£29,236
Employment Rate52.9%52.9%
Owner Occupied74.2%74.2%
Degree-Level Qualified31.2%31.2%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Ashley (new Forest) and Barton On Sea?
Ashley (new Forest) and Barton On Sea are approximately 1.9 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ashley (new Forest) or Barton On Sea?
Barton On Sea is cheaper, with an average house price of £479,998.
Is Ashley (new Forest) or Barton On Sea safer?
Barton On Sea has the lower crime rate at 54.4 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Ashley (new Forest) or Barton On Sea?
Complete school rating data is not available for both towns.
Which has faster broadband, Ashley (new Forest) or Barton On Sea?
Ashley (new Forest) has faster average broadband at 332.8 Mbps.

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