Bearsted vs Sheerness
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Sheerness offers lower property prices by roughly 112%. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Sheerness
£277,461
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Sheerness
86.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Sheerness
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Sheerness
370.5
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Sheerness
72
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Sheerness
£31,675
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Sheerness more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £277,461 versus £588,043 in Bearsted. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Sheerness it is a flat at £140,954.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 117% pricier in Bearsted (£795,686 vs £366,690).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 38%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Sheerness (86.9 per 1,000), a 86800% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Sheerness 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 Sheerness.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sheerness School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Sheerness |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 5 |
| Primary | 3 | 4 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bearsted enjoy 372.2 Mbps on average, while Sheerness lags behind at 370.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 93.8% in Sheerness. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 66.5% in Sheerness.
Bearsted is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (372 vs 371 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bearsted is band C (score 72), ahead of Sheerness's band C (score 72). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,048 in Sheerness. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Sheerness.
Sheerness has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 66.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bearsted has a population of 8,349 while Sheerness has 13,253. Median household income is £32,367 in Bearsted and £31,675 in Sheerness. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 42.6 in Sheerness. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 56.7% in Sheerness.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Sheerness |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 13,253 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £31,675 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 56.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 23.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearsted and Sheerness?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bearsted or Sheerness?
Is Bearsted or Sheerness safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Bearsted or Sheerness?
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