Bexley vs Swanley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Swanley offers lower property prices by roughly 23%. Swanley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bexley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bexley
£504,078
Swanley
£409,875
Crime Rate
Bexley
61.2
Swanley
52.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bexley
90.9%
Swanley
83.3%
Avg Download Speed
Bexley
484.3
Swanley
350.2
EPC Rating
Bexley
69.3
Swanley
69.9
Median Income
Bexley
£38,478
Swanley
£36,984
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonThe average house price in Swanley is £409,875, which is 23% less than Bexley at £504,078. The most affordable entry point in Bexley is a flat at £267,125, while in Swanley it is a flat at £245,658.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 27% pricier in Bexley (£468,536 vs £368,190).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bexley prices grew faster — 30% vs -21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonCrime is lower in Swanley (52.8 per 1,000) compared to Bexley (61.2 per 1,000), a 16% difference. The most common crime category in Bexley is violent-crime, while in Swanley 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 LondonBexley has 90.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 83.3% in Swanley. Bexley has 76 schools in total, while Swanley has 6.
Bexley School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 76 schools (60 primary, 16 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Swanley School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bexley | Swanley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 76 | 6 |
| Primary | 60 | 5 |
| Secondary | 16 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 83.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bexley offers faster average downloads at 484.3 Mbps, compared to 350.2 Mbps in Swanley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.9% of premises in Bexley and 97.2% in Swanley. Gigabit availability stands at 96.4% in Bexley and 64.6% in Swanley.
Bexley is the faster of the two by 38% on average download speed (484 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Swanley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.9 (band C) versus 69.3 (band C) in Bexley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,052 in Bexley and £1,192 in Swanley. 58.2% of homes in Bexley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Swanley.
Swanley has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 58.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,478 in Bexley and £36,983.7 in Swanley. The median age is 41.6 in Bexley and 42.4 in Swanley. Employment rates stand at 60.2% in Bexley and 61.5% in Swanley. Owner-occupancy is 68.6% in Bexley versus 68.5% in Swanley.
| Indicator | Bexley | Swanley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 245,892 | 17,209 |
| Median Age | 41.6 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £38,478 | £36,983.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.2% | 61.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 68.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.6% | 37.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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