Beccles vs Lowestoft
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Lowestoft offers lower property prices by roughly 28%. Lowestoft has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lowestoft edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Beccles
£306,599
Lowestoft
£240,161
Crime Rate
Beccles
73.0
Lowestoft
61.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Beccles
83.3%
Lowestoft
93.3%
Avg Download Speed
Beccles
238.4
Lowestoft
470.7
EPC Rating
Beccles
69.4
Lowestoft
69.2
Median Income
Beccles
£31,583
Lowestoft
£29,350
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Lowestoft is £240,161, which is 28% less than Beccles at £306,599. The most affordable entry point in Beccles is a terraced at £213,762, while in Lowestoft it is a flat at £129,295.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 66% pricier in Beccles (£214,500 vs £129,295).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Lowestoft prices grew faster — 41% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 61.1 offences per 1,000 people, Lowestoft is the safer of the two – 19% lower than Beccles's 73 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Beccles is violent-crime, while in Lowestoft 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 EnglandLowestoft has 93.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 83.3% in Beccles. Beccles has 6 schools in total, while Lowestoft has 21.
Beccles School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (4 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lowestoft School Inspection Breakdown
93.3% of 21 schools (17 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Beccles | Lowestoft |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 21 |
| Primary | 4 | 17 |
| Secondary | 2 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 93.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Lowestoft offers faster average downloads at 470.7 Mbps, compared to 238.4 Mbps in Beccles. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 89.3% of premises in Beccles and 98.7% in Lowestoft. Gigabit availability stands at 39.3% in Beccles and 93.1% in Lowestoft.
Lowestoft is the faster of the two by 97% on average download speed (471 vs 238 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Beccles are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.4 (band C) versus 69.2 (band C) in Lowestoft. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,312 in Beccles and £1,314 in Lowestoft. 59.7% of homes in Beccles have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.6% in Lowestoft.
Lowestoft has more energy-efficient housing — 60.6% reach band C or above, vs 59.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,582.5 in Beccles and £29,350 in Lowestoft. The median age is 48.4 in Beccles and 49.6 in Lowestoft. Employment rates stand at 54.6% in Beccles and 51.5% in Lowestoft. Owner-occupancy is 71% in Beccles versus 68.9% in Lowestoft.
| Indicator | Beccles | Lowestoft |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,807 | 71,308 |
| Median Age | 48.4 | 49.6 |
| Median Household Income | £31,582.5 | £29,350 |
| Employment Rate | 54.6% | 51.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 71% | 68.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.8% | 27.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Beccles and Lowestoft?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Beccles or Lowestoft?
Is Beccles or Lowestoft safer?
Which has better schools, Beccles or Lowestoft?
Which has faster broadband, Beccles or Lowestoft?
Keep exploring