Town comparison
Botley vs Cowes
Which is better to live in? 11.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Cowes offers lower property prices by roughly 29%. Botley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Botley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Botley
£430,994
Cowes
£335,058
Crime Rate
Botley
54.7
Cowes
75.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Botley
100.0%
Cowes
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Botley
406.8
Cowes
468.4
EPC Rating
Botley
73.2
Cowes
67
Median Income
Botley
£35,092
Cowes
£27,938
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Cowes is £335,058, which is 29% less than Botley at £430,994. The most affordable entry point in Botley is a flat at £225,000, while in Cowes it is a flat at £253,949.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 23% pricier in Botley (£377,492 vs £305,713).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowes prices grew faster — 36% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Botley (54.7 per 1,000) compared to Cowes (75.7 per 1,000), a 38% difference. The most common crime category in Botley is violent-crime, while in Cowes 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 EastBotley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Cowes. Botley has 1 schools in total, while Cowes has 4.
Botley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Botley | Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 4 |
| Primary | 1 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cowes offers faster average downloads at 468.4 Mbps, compared to 406.8 Mbps in Botley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Botley and 97% in Cowes. Gigabit availability stands at 74.5% in Botley and 92.2% in Cowes.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (468 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Botley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.2 (band C) versus 67 (band C) in Cowes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Botley and £1,290 in Cowes. 71% of homes in Botley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.5% in Cowes.
Botley 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 Botley and £27,938 in Cowes. The median age is 44.2 in Botley and 50.5 in Cowes. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Botley and 48.4% in Cowes. Owner-occupancy is 68.3% in Botley versus 67.6% in Cowes.
| Indicator | Botley | Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,143 | 14,366 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 50.5 |
| Median Household Income | £35,091.5 | £27,938 |
| Employment Rate | 60.4% | 48.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.3% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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