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Bishop's Waltham — a river running through a lush green forestHedge End — person in black jacket walking on road between trees during daytime

Town comparison

Bishop's Waltham vs Hedge End

Which is better to live in? 4.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.

Bishop's Waltham
Hedge End
Bishop's Waltham: Photo by Josh Smith on UnsplashHedge End: Photo by Zhifei Zhou on Unsplash
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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Bishop's Waltham wins on house prices with a 0% gap. Hedge End 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

Hedge End

£343,737

Crime Rate

Bishop's Waltham

55.2

Hedge End

54.7

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Bishop's Waltham

100.0%

Hedge End

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Bishop's Waltham

272.6

Hedge End

406.8

EPC Rating

Bishop's Waltham

73.2

Hedge End

73.2

Median Income

Bishop's Waltham

£35,092

Hedge End

£35,092

At £343,737, Bishop's Waltham undercuts Hedge End (£343,737) by around 0% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bishop's Waltham is a flat at £178,721, while in Hedge End it is a flat at £178,721.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Bishop's Waltham (£463,439 vs £463,439).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Bishop's Waltham prices grew faster — 4% vs 4%.

Residents of Hedge End experience less crime overall, with a rate of 54.7 per 1,000 versus 55.2 per 1,000 in Bishop's Waltham. The most common crime category in Bishop's Waltham is violent-crime, while in Hedge End it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

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

Of the 2 schools in Bishop's Waltham, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Hedge End, which has 8 schools, the figure is 100%.

Bishop's Waltham School Inspection Breakdown

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

Hedge End School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

MetricBishop's WalthamHedge End
Total Schools28
Primary26
Secondary02
% Top two bands100%100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Broadband in Hedge End averages 406.8 Mbps – ahead of Bishop's Waltham's 272.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.8% of premises in Bishop's Waltham and 97% in Hedge End. Gigabit availability stands at 44.9% in Bishop's Waltham and 74.5% in Hedge End.

Hedge End is the faster of the two by 49% on average download speed (407 vs 273 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Bishop's Waltham, scoring 73.2 on average (band C) compared to 73.2 (band C) in Hedge End. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Bishop's Waltham and £1,092 in Hedge End. 71% of homes in Bishop's Waltham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71% in Hedge End.

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

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £35,091.5 in Bishop's Waltham and £35,091.5 in Hedge End. The median age is 44.2 in Bishop's Waltham and 44.2 in Hedge End. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Bishop's Waltham and 60.4% in Hedge End. Owner-occupancy is 68.3% in Bishop's Waltham versus 68.3% in Hedge End. Bishop's Waltham has a population of 6,957 and Hedge End has 23,195.

IndicatorBishop's WalthamHedge End
Population6,95723,195
Median Age44.244.2
Median Household Income£35,091.5£35,091.5
Employment Rate60.4%60.4%
Owner Occupied68.3%68.3%
Degree-Level Qualified39%39%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Bishop's Waltham and Hedge End?
Bishop's Waltham and Hedge End are approximately 4.6 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bishop's Waltham or Hedge End?
Bishop's Waltham is cheaper, with an average house price of £343,737.
Is Bishop's Waltham or Hedge End safer?
Hedge End has the lower crime rate at 54.7 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Bishop's Waltham or Hedge End?
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 Hedge End?
Hedge End has faster average broadband at 406.8 Mbps.

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