Bearsted vs Gillingham (Medway)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Gillingham (medway) offers lower property prices by roughly 80%. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Gillingham (Medway)
£326,475
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Gillingham (Medway)
0.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Gillingham (Medway)
96.3%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Gillingham (Medway)
479.7
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Gillingham (Medway)
71.3
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Gillingham (Medway)
£31,916
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Gillingham (medway) more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £326,475 versus £588,043 in Bearsted. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Gillingham (medway) it is a flat at £155,412.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 90% pricier in Bearsted (£295,600 vs £155,412).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Gillingham (medway) (0.3 per 1,000), a 200% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Gillingham (medway) 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 Bearsted: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 96.3% in Gillingham (medway).
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Gillingham (Medway) School Inspection Breakdown
96.3% of 33 schools (25 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Gillingham (Medway) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 33 |
| Primary | 3 | 25 |
| Secondary | 0 | 8 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 96.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Gillingham (medway) enjoy 479.7 Mbps on average, while Bearsted lags behind at 372.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 98.1% in Gillingham (medway). Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 95.3% in Gillingham (medway).
Gillingham (medway) is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (480 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bearsted is band C (score 72), ahead of Gillingham (medway)'s band C (score 71.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,042 in Gillingham (medway). 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66% in Gillingham (medway).
Bearsted has more energy-efficient housing — 66.5% reach band C or above, vs 66% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bearsted has a population of 8,349 while Gillingham (medway) has 108,485. Median household income is £32,367 in Bearsted and £31,915.5 in Gillingham (medway). The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 41.7 in Gillingham (medway). Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 58.1% in Gillingham (medway).
| Indicator | Bearsted | Gillingham (Medway) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 108,485 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 41.7 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £31,915.5 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 58.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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