Backwell vs Paulton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Paulton is about 78% cheaper on average. Paulton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Backwell edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Backwell
£540,691
Paulton
£304,316
Crime Rate
Backwell
82.4
Paulton
78.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Backwell
100.0%
Paulton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Backwell
409.8
Paulton
373.9
EPC Rating
Backwell
71.4
Paulton
68.6
Median Income
Backwell
£32,795
Paulton
£29,497
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Paulton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £304,316 versus £540,691 in Backwell. The most affordable entry point in Backwell is a flat at £216,250, while in Paulton it is a flat at £173,411.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 72% pricier in Backwell (£683,746 vs £398,167).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Backwell prices grew faster — 41% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Paulton (78.6 per 1,000) compared to Backwell (82.4 per 1,000), a 5% difference. The most common crime category in Backwell is violent-crime, while in Paulton 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 WestSchool quality favours Backwell: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Paulton.
Backwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paulton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Backwell | Paulton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Backwell enjoy 409.8 Mbps on average, while Paulton lags behind at 373.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 88.7% of premises in Backwell and 93.6% in Paulton. Gigabit availability stands at 80.3% in Backwell and 67.6% in Paulton.
Backwell is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (410 vs 374 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Backwell is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Paulton's band C (score 68.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,179 in Backwell and £1,342 in Paulton. 65.2% of homes in Backwell have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.4% in Paulton.
Backwell has more energy-efficient housing — 65.2% reach band C or above, vs 58.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Backwell has a population of 4,347 while Paulton has 6,502. Median household income is £32,795 in Backwell and £29,496.6 in Paulton. The median age is 46.9 in Backwell and 46.5 in Paulton. Employment rates stand at 57.5% in Backwell and 56.5% in Paulton.
| Indicator | Backwell | Paulton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,347 | 6,502 |
| Median Age | 46.9 | 46.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,795 | £29,496.6 |
| Employment Rate | 57.5% | 56.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.6% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.9% | 32.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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