Beccles vs Halesworth
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Beccles offers lower property prices by roughly 15%. Halesworth has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Halesworth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beccles
£306,599
Halesworth
£362,012
Crime Rate
Beccles
73.0
Halesworth
61.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beccles
83.3%
Halesworth
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Beccles
238.4
Halesworth
274.4
EPC Rating
Beccles
69.4
Halesworth
70
Median Income
Beccles
£31,583
Halesworth
£29,682
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Beccles more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £306,599 versus £362,012 in Halesworth. The most affordable entry point in Beccles is a terraced at £213,762, while in Halesworth it is a flat at £166,600.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Beccles (£214,500 vs £166,600).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Halesworth prices grew faster — 39% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Halesworth (61.1 per 1,000) compared to Beccles (73 per 1,000), a 19% difference. The most common crime category in Beccles is violent-crime, while in Halesworth 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 East of EnglandSchool quality favours Halesworth: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 83.3% in Beccles.
Beccles School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (4 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Halesworth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beccles | Halesworth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 1 |
| Primary | 4 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Halesworth enjoy 274.4 Mbps on average, while Beccles lags behind at 238.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 89.3% of premises in Beccles and 88.6% in Halesworth. Gigabit availability stands at 39.3% in Beccles and 48% in Halesworth.
Halesworth is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (274 vs 238 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Halesworth is band C (score 70), ahead of Beccles's band C (score 69.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,312 in Beccles and £1,334 in Halesworth. 59.7% of homes in Beccles have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.8% in Halesworth.
Halesworth has more energy-efficient housing — 60.8% reach band C or above, vs 59.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Beccles has a population of 9,807 while Halesworth has 4,924. Median household income is £31,582.5 in Beccles and £29,681.5 in Halesworth. The median age is 48.4 in Beccles and 48.8 in Halesworth. Employment rates stand at 54.6% in Beccles and 54.8% in Halesworth.
| Indicator | Beccles | Halesworth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,807 | 4,924 |
| Median Age | 48.4 | 48.8 |
| Median Household Income | £31,582.5 | £29,681.5 |
| Employment Rate | 54.6% | 54.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 71% | 71.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.8% | 28.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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