Ashley (New Forest) vs Brockenhurst

Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.8 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Ashley (new Forest) wins on house prices with a 46% gap. Brockenhurst has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashley (new Forest) edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

✓

Ashley (New Forest)

£559,657

Brockenhurst

£1,030,243

Crime Rate

Ashley (New Forest)

54.6

✓

Brockenhurst

54.2

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Ashley (New Forest)

100.0%

Brockenhurst

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Ashley (New Forest)

332.8

✓

Brockenhurst

343.7

EPC Rating

Ashley (New Forest)

68.5

Brockenhurst

68.5

Median Income

Ashley (New Forest)

£29,236

Brockenhurst

£29,236

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in South East

Property in Brockenhurst commands an average of £1,030,243, compared with £559,657 in Ashley (new Forest) – a difference of 46%. The most affordable entry point in Ashley (new Forest) is a semi-detached at £377,723, while in Brockenhurst it is a flat at £258,100.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 59% pricier in Brockenhurst (£1,386,294 vs £574,438).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Brockenhurst prices grew faster — 54% vs 51%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in South East

Residents of Brockenhurst experience less crime overall, with a rate of 54.2 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 Brockenhurst 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 Ashley (new Forest), where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Brockenhurst. There are 2 schools in Ashley (new Forest) and 1 in Brockenhurst.

Ashley (New Forest) School Inspection Breakdown

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

Brockenhurst School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Ashley (New Forest)	Brockenhurst
Total Schools	2	1
Primary	2	1
Secondary	0	0
% Top two bands	100%	100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 343.7 Mbps in Brockenhurst and 332.8 Mbps in Ashley (new Forest). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Ashley (new Forest) and 83.5% in Brockenhurst. Gigabit availability stands at 60.6% in Ashley (new Forest) and 65.4% in Brockenhurst.

Brockenhurst is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (344 vs 333 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

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

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 Brockenhurst. The median age is 51.4 in Ashley (new Forest) and 51.4 in Brockenhurst. Owner-occupancy is 74.2% in Ashley (new Forest) versus 74.2% in Brockenhurst. Employment rates stand at 52.9% in Ashley (new Forest) and 52.9% in Brockenhurst.

Indicator	Ashley (New Forest)	Brockenhurst
Population	7,730	3,484
Median Age	51.4	51.4
Median Household Income	£29,236	£29,236
Employment Rate	52.9%	52.9%
Owner Occupied	74.2%	74.2%
Degree-Level Qualified	31.2%	31.2%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Ashley (new Forest) and Brockenhurst?

Ashley (new Forest) and Brockenhurst are approximately 4.8 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ashley (new Forest) or Brockenhurst?

Ashley (new Forest) is cheaper, with an average house price of £559,657.

Is Ashley (new Forest) or Brockenhurst safer?

Brockenhurst has the lower crime rate at 54.2 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Ashley (new Forest) or Brockenhurst?

Ashley (new Forest) has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Ashley (new Forest) or Brockenhurst?

Brockenhurst has faster average broadband at 343.7 Mbps.

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