Barnstaple vs Bideford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Bideford is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 2% lower. For families, Bideford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnstaple
£306,501
Bideford
£301,119
Crime Rate
Barnstaple
N/A
Bideford
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnstaple
85.7%
Bideford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnstaple
444.1
Bideford
416.3
EPC Rating
Barnstaple
67.3
Bideford
68.4
Median Income
Barnstaple
£27,065
Bideford
£27,547
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Barnstaple commands an average of £306,501, compared with £301,119 in Bideford – a difference of 2%. The most affordable entry point in Barnstaple is a flat at £156,628, while in Bideford it is a flat at £171,409.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 9% pricier in Bideford (£171,409 vs £156,628).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bideford prices grew faster — 37% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime rate data is not available for both Barnstaple and Bideford at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South WestFamilies may prefer Bideford, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 85.7% in Barnstaple. There are 11 schools in Barnstaple and 4 in Bideford.
Barnstaple School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 11 schools (9 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bideford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnstaple | Bideford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 11 | 4 |
| Primary | 9 | 3 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 85.7% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 444.1 Mbps in Barnstaple and 416.3 Mbps in Bideford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.8% of premises in Barnstaple and 88.4% in Bideford. Gigabit availability stands at 88.1% in Barnstaple and 81.6% in Bideford.
Barnstaple is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (444 vs 416 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bideford, scoring 68.4 on average (band C) compared to 67.3 (band C) in Barnstaple. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,401 in Barnstaple and £1,382 in Bideford. 52.7% of homes in Barnstaple have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.6% in Bideford.
Bideford has more energy-efficient housing — 55.6% reach band C or above, vs 52.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,546.5 in Bideford and £27,065 in Barnstaple. The median age is 48.3 in Barnstaple and 49.1 in Bideford. Employment rates stand at 55% in Barnstaple and 53.6% in Bideford. Owner-occupancy is 67.3% in Barnstaple versus 68.4% in Bideford. Barnstaple has a population of 31,271 and Bideford has 19,493.
| Indicator | Barnstaple | Bideford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,271 | 19,493 |
| Median Age | 48.3 | 49.1 |
| Median Household Income | £27,065 | £27,546.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55% | 53.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.3% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.5% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnstaple and Bideford?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barnstaple or Bideford?
Is Barnstaple or Bideford safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Barnstaple or Bideford?
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