Bearsted vs Tonbridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Tonbridge offers lower property prices by roughly 15%. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
Tonbridge
£510,606
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
Tonbridge
0.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
Tonbridge
90.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
Tonbridge
448.4
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
Tonbridge
73.3
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
Tonbridge
£32,641
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Tonbridge more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £510,606 versus £588,043 in Bearsted. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in Tonbridge it is a flat at £273,613.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 14% pricier in Tonbridge (£504,609 vs £433,355).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 39%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to Tonbridge (0.2 per 1,000), a 100% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in Tonbridge 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 90% in Tonbridge.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Tonbridge School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 14 schools (8 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | Tonbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 14 |
| Primary | 3 | 8 |
| Secondary | 0 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Tonbridge enjoy 448.4 Mbps on average, while Bearsted lags behind at 372.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 98.3% in Tonbridge. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 87.4% in Tonbridge.
Tonbridge is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (448 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Tonbridge is band C (score 73.3), ahead of Bearsted's band C (score 72). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,084 in Tonbridge. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.3% in Tonbridge.
Tonbridge has more energy-efficient housing — 70.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bearsted has a population of 8,349 while Tonbridge has 36,136. Median household income is £32,641 in Tonbridge and £32,367 in Bearsted. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 43.4 in Tonbridge. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 61.1% in Tonbridge.
| Indicator | Bearsted | Tonbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 36,136 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £32,641 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 61.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 70% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearsted and Tonbridge?
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