Town comparison
Ashtead vs Richmond upon Thames
Which is better to live in? 9.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Ashtead offers lower property prices by roughly 8%. Ashtead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashtead edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ashtead
£694,684
Richmond upon Thames
£754,162
Crime Rate
Ashtead
56.0
Richmond upon Thames
57.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ashtead
100.0%
Richmond upon Thames
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ashtead
369.9
Richmond upon Thames
389.7
EPC Rating
Ashtead
67.9
Richmond upon Thames
68.4
Median Income
Ashtead
£37,374
Richmond upon Thames
£47,657
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Ashtead more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £694,684 versus £754,162 in Richmond Upon Thames. The most affordable entry point in Ashtead is a flat at £331,010, while in Richmond Upon Thames it is a flat at £435,565.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 41% pricier in Richmond Upon Thames (£1,658,584 vs £986,744).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ashtead prices grew faster — 17% vs -13%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 56 offences per 1,000 people, Ashtead is the safer of the two – 2% lower than Richmond Upon Thames's 57.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Ashtead is violent-crime, while in Richmond Upon Thames 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 EastSchool quality favours Ashtead: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Richmond Upon Thames.
Ashtead School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Richmond upon Thames School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 56 schools (45 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ashtead | Richmond upon Thames |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 56 |
| Primary | 5 | 45 |
| Secondary | 1 | 11 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Richmond Upon Thames enjoy 389.7 Mbps on average, while Ashtead lags behind at 369.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.4% of premises in Ashtead and 89.3% in Richmond Upon Thames. Gigabit availability stands at 69.4% in Ashtead and 73% in Richmond Upon Thames.
Richmond Upon Thames is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (390 vs 370 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Richmond Upon Thames is band C (score 68.4), ahead of Ashtead's band C (score 67.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,489 in Ashtead and £1,204 in Richmond Upon Thames. 55% of homes in Ashtead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.4% in Richmond Upon Thames.
Richmond Upon Thames has more energy-efficient housing — 57.4% reach band C or above, vs 55% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Ashtead has a population of 14,830 while Richmond Upon Thames has 192,888. Median household income is £47,657 in Richmond Upon Thames and £37,374 in Ashtead. The median age is 47.8 in Ashtead and 42 in Richmond Upon Thames. Employment rates stand at 58.5% in Ashtead and 62.6% in Richmond Upon Thames.
| Indicator | Ashtead | Richmond upon Thames |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,830 | 192,888 |
| Median Age | 47.8 | 42 |
| Median Household Income | £37,374 | £47,657 |
| Employment Rate | 58.5% | 62.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 73.2% | 62.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43.1% | 60.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Ashtead and Richmond Upon Thames?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ashtead or Richmond Upon Thames?
Is Ashtead or Richmond Upon Thames safer?
Which has better schools, Ashtead or Richmond Upon Thames?
Which has faster broadband, Ashtead or Richmond Upon Thames?
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