Town comparison
Bexhill-on-Sea vs Rye
Which is better to live in? 13.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Bexhill On Sea offers lower property prices by roughly 32%. Rye has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bexhill On Sea edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bexhill-on-Sea
£331,834
Rye
£485,819
Crime Rate
Bexhill-on-Sea
58.8
Rye
58.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bexhill-on-Sea
100.0%
Rye
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bexhill-on-Sea
383.6
Rye
334.9
EPC Rating
Bexhill-on-Sea
69.2
Rye
69.1
Median Income
Bexhill-on-Sea
£30,597
Rye
£31,535
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Bexhill On Sea is £331,834, which is 32% less than Rye at £485,819. The most affordable entry point in Bexhill On Sea is a flat at £190,997, while in Rye it is a flat at £211,125.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 27% pricier in Rye (£395,105 vs £287,221).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Rye prices grew faster — 49% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Rye (58.7 per 1,000) compared to Bexhill On Sea (58.8 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Bexhill On Sea is violent-crime, while in Rye 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 EastBexhill On Sea has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Rye. Bexhill On Sea has 10 schools in total, while Rye has 2.
Bexhill-on-Sea School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Rye School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bexhill-on-Sea | Rye |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 2 |
| Primary | 8 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bexhill On Sea offers faster average downloads at 383.6 Mbps, compared to 334.9 Mbps in Rye. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.6% of premises in Bexhill On Sea and 92% in Rye. Gigabit availability stands at 72.5% in Bexhill On Sea and 61.9% in Rye.
Bexhill On Sea is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (384 vs 335 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bexhill On Sea are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.2 (band C) versus 69.1 (band C) in Rye. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,316 in Bexhill On Sea and £1,259 in Rye. 57.2% of homes in Bexhill On Sea have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.8% in Rye.
Rye has more energy-efficient housing — 58.8% reach band C or above, vs 57.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,534.5 in Rye and £30,597 in Bexhill On Sea. The median age is 50.9 in Bexhill On Sea and 50.2 in Rye. Employment rates stand at 51.8% in Bexhill On Sea and 50% in Rye. Owner-occupancy is 74.8% in Bexhill On Sea versus 69.2% in Rye.
| Indicator | Bexhill-on-Sea | Rye |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,750 | 4,888 |
| Median Age | 50.9 | 50.2 |
| Median Household Income | £30,597 | £31,534.5 |
| Employment Rate | 51.8% | 50% |
| Owner Occupied | 74.8% | 69.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.2% | 28.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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