Bearwood vs Wareham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Bearwood is about 30% cheaper on average. Wareham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bearwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bearwood
£292,602
Wareham
£420,910
Crime Rate
Bearwood
56.6
Wareham
44.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bearwood
100.0%
Wareham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bearwood
479.7
Wareham
264.8
EPC Rating
Bearwood
69.8
Wareham
68.3
Median Income
Bearwood
£30,213
Wareham
£29,709
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Bearwood more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £292,602 versus £420,910 in Wareham. The most affordable entry point in Bearwood is a flat at £160,500, while in Wareham it is a flat at £207,897.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 31% pricier in Wareham (£611,776 vs £423,417).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bearwood prices grew faster — 42% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Wareham (44.9 per 1,000) compared to Bearwood (56.6 per 1,000), a 26% difference. The most common crime category in Bearwood is violent-crime, while in Wareham 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 WestSchool quality favours Bearwood: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Wareham.
Bearwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wareham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bearwood | Wareham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bearwood enjoy 479.7 Mbps on average, while Wareham lags behind at 264.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Bearwood and 86.3% in Wareham. Gigabit availability stands at 94.9% in Bearwood and 45.7% in Wareham.
Bearwood is the faster of the two by 81% on average download speed (480 vs 265 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bearwood is band C (score 69.8), ahead of Wareham's band C (score 68.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Bearwood and £1,375 in Wareham. 63% of homes in Bearwood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56% in Wareham.
Bearwood has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 56% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bearwood has a population of 4,134 while Wareham has 5,876. Median household income is £30,213 in Bearwood and £29,709 in Wareham. The median age is 45.5 in Bearwood and 51.1 in Wareham. Employment rates stand at 55.5% in Bearwood and 52.1% in Wareham.
| Indicator | Bearwood | Wareham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,134 | 5,876 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 51.1 |
| Median Household Income | £30,213 | £29,709 |
| Employment Rate | 55.5% | 52.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.8% | 70.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.1% | 31.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bearwood and Wareham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bearwood or Wareham?
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