Bearsted vs Paddock Wood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Paddock Wood offers lower property prices by roughly 11%. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Paddock Wood
£529,564
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Paddock Wood
0.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Paddock Wood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Paddock Wood
328.1
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Paddock Wood
71.2
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Paddock Wood
£34,114
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Paddock Wood is £529,564, which is 11% less than Bearsted at £588,043. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Paddock Wood it is a flat at £220,772.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Bearsted (£295,600 vs £220,772).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Paddock Wood prices grew faster — 61% vs 52%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Paddock Wood (0.3 per 1,000), a 200% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Paddock Wood 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 100% in Paddock Wood. Bearsted has 3 schools in total, while Paddock Wood has 2.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paddock Wood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Paddock Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bearsted offers faster average downloads at 372.2 Mbps, compared to 328.1 Mbps in Paddock Wood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 89.1% in Paddock Wood. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 60.5% in Paddock Wood.
Bearsted is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (372 vs 328 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bearsted are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 71.2 (band C) in Paddock Wood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,197 in Paddock Wood. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.3% in Paddock Wood.
Bearsted has more energy-efficient housing — 66.5% reach band C or above, vs 64.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,114.3 in Paddock Wood and £32,367 in Bearsted. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 43.6 in Paddock Wood. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 60.8% in Paddock Wood. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Bearsted versus 67.5% in Paddock Wood.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Paddock Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 7,270 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 43.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £34,114.3 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 60.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 34.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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