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Bishop's Waltham — a river running through a lush green forestEast Cowes — a narrow street lined with white buildings next to a body of water

Town comparison

Bishop's Waltham vs East Cowes

Which is better to live in? 14.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.

Bishop's Waltham
East Cowes
Bishop's Waltham: Photo by Josh Smith on UnsplashEast Cowes: Photo by BEN ELLIOTT on Unsplash
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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, East Cowes wins on house prices with a 42% 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

East Cowes

£242,362

Crime Rate

Bishop's Waltham

55.2

East Cowes

75.9

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Bishop's Waltham

100.0%

East Cowes

0.0%

Avg Download Speed

Bishop's Waltham

272.6

East Cowes

443.5

EPC Rating

Bishop's Waltham

73.2

East Cowes

67

Median Income

Bishop's Waltham

£35,092

East Cowes

£27,938

Property in Bishop's Waltham commands an average of £343,737, compared with £242,362 in East Cowes – a difference of 42%. The most affordable entry point in Bishop's Waltham is a flat at £178,721, while in East Cowes it is a flat at £153,618.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 43% pricier in Bishop's Waltham (£463,439 vs £324,816).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, East Cowes prices grew faster — 37% vs 4%.

Residents of Bishop's Waltham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 55.2 per 1,000 versus 75.9 per 1,000 in East Cowes. The most common crime category in Bishop's Waltham is violent-crime, while in East Cowes it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

Families may prefer Bishop's Waltham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 0% in East Cowes. There are 2 schools in Bishop's Waltham and 2 in East Cowes.

Bishop's Waltham School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

East Cowes School Inspection Breakdown

0% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

MetricBishop's WalthamEast Cowes
Total Schools22
Primary22
Secondary00
% Top two bands100%0%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 443.5 Mbps in East Cowes and 272.6 Mbps in Bishop's Waltham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.8% of premises in Bishop's Waltham and 94.9% in East Cowes. Gigabit availability stands at 44.9% in Bishop's Waltham and 87% in East Cowes.

East Cowes is the faster of the two by 63% on average download speed (444 vs 273 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Bishop's Waltham leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 73.2 (C), while East Cowes averages 67 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Bishop's Waltham and £1,290 in East Cowes. 71% of homes in Bishop's Waltham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.5% in East Cowes.

Bishop's Waltham has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £35,091.5 in Bishop's Waltham and £27,938 in East Cowes. The median age is 44.2 in Bishop's Waltham and 50.5 in East Cowes. Owner-occupancy is 68.3% in Bishop's Waltham versus 67.6% in East Cowes. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Bishop's Waltham and 48.4% in East Cowes.

IndicatorBishop's WalthamEast Cowes
Population6,9578,424
Median Age44.250.5
Median Household Income£35,091.5£27,938
Employment Rate60.4%48.4%
Owner Occupied68.3%67.6%
Degree-Level Qualified39%27.4%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Bishop's Waltham and East Cowes?
Bishop's Waltham and East Cowes are approximately 14.3 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bishop's Waltham or East Cowes?
East Cowes is cheaper, with an average house price of £242,362.
Is Bishop's Waltham or East Cowes safer?
Bishop's Waltham has the lower crime rate at 55.2 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Bishop's Waltham or East Cowes?
Bishop's Waltham has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.
Which has faster broadband, Bishop's Waltham or East Cowes?
East Cowes has faster average broadband at 443.5 Mbps.

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