Beccles vs Harleston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Beccles is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 10% lower. Harleston has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Beccles
£306,599
Harleston
£339,852
Crime Rate
Beccles
73.0
Harleston
42.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beccles
83.3%
Harleston
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Beccles
238.4
Harleston
156
EPC Rating
Beccles
69.4
Harleston
69.9
Median Income
Beccles
£31,583
Harleston
£31,059
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Harleston commands an average of £339,852, compared with £306,599 in Beccles – a difference of 10%. The most affordable entry point in Beccles is a terraced at £213,762, while in Harleston it is a flat at £175,712.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 22% pricier in Beccles (£214,500 vs £175,712).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harleston prices grew faster — 51% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandHarleston has a crime rate of 42.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 73% lower than Beccles at 73 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Beccles is violent-crime, while in Harleston 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 data is not fully available for both Beccles and Harleston. Beccles has 6 schools and Harleston has 1 schools.
Beccles School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (4 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harleston School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Beccles | Harleston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 1 |
| Primary | 4 | 0 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 238.4 Mbps in Beccles and 156.0 Mbps in Harleston. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 89.3% of premises in Beccles and 86.5% in Harleston. Gigabit availability stands at 39.3% in Beccles and 20.2% in Harleston.
Beccles is the faster of the two by 53% on average download speed (238 vs 156 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Harleston leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 69.9 (C), while Beccles averages 69.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,312 in Beccles and £1,326 in Harleston. 59.7% of homes in Beccles have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Harleston.
Harleston has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 59.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,582.5 in Beccles and £31,059.3 in Harleston. The median age is 48.4 in Beccles and 48.2 in Harleston. Owner-occupancy is 71% in Beccles versus 72% in Harleston. Employment rates stand at 54.6% in Beccles and 55.8% in Harleston.
| Indicator | Beccles | Harleston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,807 | 5,077 |
| Median Age | 48.4 | 48.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,582.5 | £31,059.3 |
| Employment Rate | 54.6% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 71% | 72% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.8% | 29.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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