Bexley vs Havering
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.2 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Havering wins on house prices with a 19% gap. Bexley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Havering edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bexley
£504,078
Havering
£425,044
Crime Rate
Bexley
61.2
Havering
68.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bexley
90.9%
Havering
98.4%
Avg Download Speed
Bexley
484.3
Havering
443.4
EPC Rating
Bexley
69.3
Havering
68.6
Median Income
Bexley
£38,478
Havering
£38,905
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonProperty in Bexley commands an average of £504,078, compared with £425,044 in Havering – a difference of 19%. The most affordable entry point in Bexley is a flat at £267,125, while in Havering it is a flat at £252,355.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 29% pricier in Bexley (£738,418 vs £572,241).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bexley prices grew faster — 30% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonResidents of Bexley experience less crime overall, with a rate of 61.2 per 1,000 versus 68.1 per 1,000 in Havering. The most common crime category in Bexley is violent-crime, while in Havering 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 LondonFamilies may prefer Havering, where 98.4% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 90.9% in Bexley. There are 76 schools in Bexley and 77 in Havering.
Bexley School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 76 schools (60 primary, 16 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Havering School Inspection Breakdown
98.4% of 77 schools (59 primary, 18 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bexley | Havering |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 76 | 77 |
| Primary | 60 | 59 |
| Secondary | 16 | 18 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 98.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 484.3 Mbps in Bexley and 443.4 Mbps in Havering. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.9% of premises in Bexley and 98% in Havering. Gigabit availability stands at 96.4% in Bexley and 86.5% in Havering.
Bexley is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (484 vs 443 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bexley, scoring 69.3 on average (band C) compared to 68.6 (band C) in Havering. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,052 in Bexley and £1,120 in Havering. 58.2% of homes in Bexley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.7% in Havering.
Bexley has more energy-efficient housing — 58.2% reach band C or above, vs 54.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,905 in Havering and £38,478 in Bexley. The median age is 41.6 in Bexley and 42.2 in Havering. Employment rates stand at 60.2% in Bexley and 59.5% in Havering. Owner-occupancy is 68.6% in Bexley versus 69.5% in Havering. Bexley has a population of 245,892 and Havering has 259,653.
| Indicator | Bexley | Havering |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 245,892 | 259,653 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £38,478 | £38,905 |
| Employment Rate | 60.2% | 59.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 69.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.6% | 29.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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