Bearwood vs Fordingbridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Bearwood is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 36% lower. Fordingbridge has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearwood
£292,602
Fordingbridge
£457,868
Crime Rate
Bearwood
56.6
Fordingbridge
54.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearwood
100.0%
Fordingbridge
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearwood
479.7
Fordingbridge
341.4
EPC Rating
Bearwood
69.8
Fordingbridge
68.7
Median Income
Bearwood
£30,213
Fordingbridge
£29,385
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £292,602, Bearwood undercuts Fordingbridge (£457,868) by around 36% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bearwood is a flat at £160,500, while in Fordingbridge it is a flat at £168,598.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 25% pricier in Fordingbridge (£566,264 vs £423,417).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearwood prices grew faster — 42% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestFordingbridge has a crime rate of 54.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 4% lower than Bearwood at 56.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bearwood is violent-crime, while in Fordingbridge 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 Fordingbridge, which has 3 schools, the figure is 100%.
Bearwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fordingbridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearwood | Fordingbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Bearwood averages 479.7 Mbps – ahead of Fordingbridge's 341.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Bearwood and 89.4% in Fordingbridge. Gigabit availability stands at 94.9% in Bearwood and 63.8% in Fordingbridge.
Bearwood is the faster of the two by 41% on average download speed (480 vs 341 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bearwood, scoring 69.8 on average (band C) compared to 68.7 (band C) in Fordingbridge. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Bearwood and £1,317 in Fordingbridge. 63% of homes in Bearwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.1% in Fordingbridge.
Bearwood has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 58.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,213 in Bearwood and £29,384.7 in Fordingbridge. The median age is 45.5 in Bearwood and 49.3 in Fordingbridge. Employment rates stand at 55.5% in Bearwood and 55.1% in Fordingbridge. Owner-occupancy is 62.8% in Bearwood versus 70.5% in Fordingbridge. Bearwood has a population of 4,134 and Fordingbridge has 4,947.
| Indicator | Bearwood | Fordingbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,134 | 4,947 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 49.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,213 | £29,384.7 |
| Employment Rate | 55.5% | 55.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.8% | 70.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.1% | 32.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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