Town comparison
Bishop's Waltham vs Colden Common
Which is better to live in? 5.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Bishop's Waltham wins on house prices with a 20% gap. Bishop's Waltham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bishop's Waltham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bishop's Waltham
£343,737
Colden Common
£427,667
Crime Rate
Bishop's Waltham
55.2
Colden Common
55.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bishop's Waltham
100.0%
Colden Common
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bishop's Waltham
272.6
Colden Common
173.6
EPC Rating
Bishop's Waltham
73.2
Colden Common
72.2
Median Income
Bishop's Waltham
£35,092
Colden Common
£35,169
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Colden Common commands an average of £427,667, compared with £343,737 in Bishop's Waltham – a difference of 20%. The most affordable entry point in Bishop's Waltham is a flat at £178,721, while in Colden Common it is a flat at £168,680.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 18% pricier in Colden Common (£562,447 vs £463,439).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Colden Common prices grew faster — 6% vs 4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Bishop's Waltham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 55.2 per 1,000 versus 55.4 per 1,000 in Colden Common. The most common crime category in Bishop's Waltham is violent-crime, while in Colden Common 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 EastFamilies may prefer Bishop's Waltham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Colden Common. There are 2 schools in Bishop's Waltham and 1 in Colden Common.
Bishop's Waltham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Colden Common School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bishop's Waltham | Colden Common |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 1 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 272.6 Mbps in Bishop's Waltham and 173.6 Mbps in Colden Common. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.8% of premises in Bishop's Waltham and 77.9% in Colden Common. Gigabit availability stands at 44.9% in Bishop's Waltham and 25.7% in Colden Common.
Bishop's Waltham is the faster of the two by 57% on average download speed (273 vs 174 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bishop's Waltham, scoring 73.2 on average (band C) compared to 72.2 (band C) in Colden Common. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Bishop's Waltham and £1,162 in Colden Common. 71% of homes in Bishop's Waltham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.3% in Colden Common.
Bishop's Waltham has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 69.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,168.5 in Colden Common and £35,091.5 in Bishop's Waltham. The median age is 44.2 in Bishop's Waltham and 44 in Colden Common. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Bishop's Waltham and 61.8% in Colden Common. Owner-occupancy is 68.3% in Bishop's Waltham versus 67.6% in Colden Common. Bishop's Waltham has a population of 6,957 and Colden Common has 3,827.
| Indicator | Bishop's Waltham | Colden Common |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,957 | 3,827 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £35,091.5 | £35,168.5 |
| Employment Rate | 60.4% | 61.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.3% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39% | 37.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bishop's Waltham and Colden Common?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bishop's Waltham or Colden Common?
Is Bishop's Waltham or Colden Common safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Bishop's Waltham or Colden Common?
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