Bearsted vs Maidstone
Which is better to live in? Distance: 2.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Maidstone offers lower property prices by roughly 58%. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Maidstone
£372,558
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Maidstone
0.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Maidstone
96.4%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Maidstone
372.2
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Maidstone
72
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Maidstone
£32,367
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Maidstone is £372,558, which is 58% less than Bearsted at £588,043. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Maidstone it is a flat at £184,674.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 60% pricier in Bearsted (£295,600 vs £184,674).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Maidstone (0.2 per 1,000), a 100% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Maidstone 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 EastBearsted has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 96.4% in Maidstone. Bearsted has 3 schools in total, while Maidstone has 37.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Maidstone School Inspection Breakdown
96.4% of 37 schools (27 primary, 10 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Maidstone |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 37 |
| Primary | 3 | 27 |
| Secondary | 0 | 10 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 96.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bearsted offers faster average downloads at 372.2 Mbps, compared to 372.2 Mbps in Maidstone. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 90.4% in Maidstone. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 66.6% in Maidstone.
Bearsted is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (372 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bearsted are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 72 (band C) in Maidstone. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,100 in Maidstone. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.5% in Maidstone.
Bearsted has more energy-efficient housing — 66.5% reach band C or above, vs 66.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,367 in Bearsted and £32,367 in Maidstone. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 43.1 in Maidstone. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 60.8% in Maidstone. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Bearsted versus 67.4% in Maidstone.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Maidstone |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 108,814 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 43.1 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £32,367 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 60.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 29.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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