Town comparison
Bearsted vs West Kingsdown
Which is better to live in? 14.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in West Kingsdown is about 8% cheaper on average. Bearsted has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearsted edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearsted
£588,043
West Kingsdown
£542,945
Crime Rate
Bearsted
0.1
West Kingsdown
52.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearsted
100.0%
West Kingsdown
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearsted
372.2
West Kingsdown
369.7
EPC Rating
Bearsted
72
West Kingsdown
70.1
Median Income
Bearsted
£32,367
West Kingsdown
£33,015
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in West Kingsdown is £542,945, which is 8% less than Bearsted at £588,043. The most affordable entry point in Bearsted is a flat at £295,600, while in West Kingsdown it is a flat at £325,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 19% pricier in Bearsted (£795,686 vs £666,463).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearsted prices grew faster — 52% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Bearsted (0.1 per 1,000) compared to West Kingsdown (52.7 per 1,000), a 52600% difference. The most common crime category in Bearsted is violent-crime, while in West Kingsdown 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 West Kingsdown. Bearsted has 3 schools in total, while West Kingsdown has 1.
Bearsted School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
West Kingsdown School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearsted | West Kingsdown |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bearsted offers faster average downloads at 372.2 Mbps, compared to 369.7 Mbps in West Kingsdown. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.4% of premises in Bearsted and 87.1% in West Kingsdown. Gigabit availability stands at 66.6% in Bearsted and 70.6% in West Kingsdown.
Bearsted is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (372 vs 370 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bearsted are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 70.1 (band C) in West Kingsdown. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,100 in Bearsted and £1,232 in West Kingsdown. 66.5% of homes in Bearsted have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in West Kingsdown.
Bearsted has more energy-efficient housing — 66.5% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,015 in West Kingsdown and £32,367 in Bearsted. The median age is 43.1 in Bearsted and 43.4 in West Kingsdown. Employment rates stand at 60.8% in Bearsted and 59.4% in West Kingsdown. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Bearsted versus 67.9% in West Kingsdown.
| Indicator | Bearsted | West Kingsdown |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,349 | 4,306 |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £32,367 | £33,015 |
| Employment Rate | 60.8% | 59.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 32.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearsted and West Kingsdown?
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