Bearsted vs Iwade
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Iwade offers lower property prices by roughly 62%. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Iwade
£362,802
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Iwade
86.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Iwade
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Iwade
238.9
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Iwade
71.5
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Iwade
£32,066
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Iwade more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £362,802 versus £588,043 in Bearsted. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Iwade it is a flat at £193,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 65% pricier in Bearsted (£795,686 vs £481,074).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Iwade (86.7 per 1,000), a 86600% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Iwade 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 100% in Iwade.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Iwade School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Iwade |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bearsted enjoy 372.2 Mbps on average, while Iwade lags behind at 238.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 76.3% in Iwade. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 40% in Iwade.
Bearsted is the faster of the two by 56% on average download speed (372 vs 239 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bearsted is band C (score 72), ahead of Iwade's band C (score 71.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,061 in Iwade. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.1% in Iwade.
Bearsted has more energy-efficient housing — 66.5% reach band C or above, vs 66.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bearsted has a population of 8,349 while Iwade has 4,533. Median household income is £32,367 in Bearsted and £32,066 in Iwade. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 42.2 in Iwade. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 59% in Iwade.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Iwade |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 4,533 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £32,066 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 59% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearsted and Iwade?
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