Town comparison
Bearsted vs Tenterden
Which is better to live in? 14.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Tenterden is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 12% lower. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Tenterden
£523,110
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Tenterden
66.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Tenterden
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Tenterden
315.9
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Tenterden
70.5
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Tenterden
£32,443
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Bearsted commands an average of £588,043, compared with £523,110 in Tenterden – a difference of 12%. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Tenterden it is a flat at £283,850.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 22% pricier in Bearsted (£795,686 vs £652,499).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 32%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastBearsted has a crime rate of 0.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 66500% lower than Tenterden at 66.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Tenterden 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 EastFamilies may prefer Bearsted, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Tenterden. There are 3 schools in Bearsted and 4 in Tenterden.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tenterden School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Tenterden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 4 |
| Primary | 3 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 372.2 Mbps in Bearsted and 315.9 Mbps in Tenterden. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 87.1% in Tenterden. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 58.1% in Tenterden.
Bearsted is the faster of the two by 18% on average download speed (372 vs 316 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bearsted, scoring 72 on average (band C) compared to 70.5 (band C) in Tenterden. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,166 in Tenterden. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.2% in Tenterden.
Bearsted has more energy-efficient housing — 66.5% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,443 in Tenterden and £32,367 in Bearsted. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 43.2 in Tenterden. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 59.6% in Tenterden. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Bearsted versus 66.4% in Tenterden. Bearsted has a population of 8,349 and Tenterden has 7,775.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Tenterden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 7,775 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 43.2 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £32,443 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 59.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 30.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearsted and Tenterden?
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