Bearwood vs Bournemouth
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Bearwood wins on house prices with a 16% gap. Bearwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearwood
£292,602
Bournemouth
£347,991
Crime Rate
Bearwood
56.6
Bournemouth
56.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearwood
100.0%
Bournemouth
96.6%
Avg Download Speed
Bearwood
479.7
Bournemouth
415.2
EPC Rating
Bearwood
69.8
Bournemouth
69.8
Median Income
Bearwood
£30,213
Bournemouth
£30,213
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £292,602, Bearwood undercuts Bournemouth (£347,991) by around 16% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bearwood is a flat at £160,500, while in Bournemouth it is a flat at £214,865.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 25% pricier in Bournemouth (£214,865 vs £160,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearwood prices grew faster — 42% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestResidents of Bearwood experience less crime overall, with a rate of 56.6 per 1,000 versus 56.9 per 1,000 in Bournemouth. The most common crime category in Bearwood is violent-crime, while in Bournemouth 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 WestOf the 1 schools in Bearwood, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Bournemouth, which has 39 schools, the figure is 96.6%.
Bearwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bournemouth School Inspection Breakdown
96.6% of 39 schools (27 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearwood | Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 39 |
| Primary | 1 | 27 |
| Secondary | 0 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 96.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Bearwood averages 479.7 Mbps – ahead of Bournemouth's 415.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Bearwood and 98.4% in Bournemouth. Gigabit availability stands at 94.9% in Bearwood and 75.5% in Bournemouth.
Bearwood is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (480 vs 415 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bearwood, scoring 69.8 on average (band C) compared to 69.8 (band C) in Bournemouth. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Bearwood and £1,117 in Bournemouth. 63% of homes in Bearwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63% in Bournemouth.
Bearwood has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 63% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,213 in Bearwood and £30,213 in Bournemouth. The median age is 45.5 in Bearwood and 45.5 in Bournemouth. Employment rates stand at 55.5% in Bearwood and 55.5% in Bournemouth. Owner-occupancy is 62.8% in Bearwood versus 62.8% in Bournemouth. Bearwood has a population of 4,134 and Bournemouth has 196,132.
| Indicator | Bearwood | Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,134 | 196,132 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 45.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,213 | £30,213 |
| Employment Rate | 55.5% | 55.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.8% | 62.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.1% | 32.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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