Town comparison
Botley vs East Cowes
Which is better to live in? 11.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, East Cowes offers lower property prices by roughly 78%. Botley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Botley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Botley
£430,994
East Cowes
£242,362
Crime Rate
Botley
54.7
East Cowes
75.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Botley
100.0%
East Cowes
0.0%
Avg Download Speed
Botley
406.8
East Cowes
443.5
EPC Rating
Botley
73.2
East Cowes
67
Median Income
Botley
£35,092
East Cowes
£27,938
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in East Cowes is £242,362, which is 78% less than Botley at £430,994. The most affordable entry point in Botley is a flat at £225,000, while in East Cowes it is a flat at £153,618.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 57% pricier in Botley (£509,840 vs £324,816).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, East Cowes prices grew faster — 37% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Botley (54.7 per 1,000) compared to East Cowes (75.9 per 1,000), a 39% difference. The most common crime category in Botley 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.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastBotley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 0% in East Cowes. Botley has 1 schools in total, while East Cowes has 2.
Botley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 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.
| Metric | Botley | East Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 0% |
Broadband & Connectivity
East Cowes offers faster average downloads at 443.5 Mbps, compared to 406.8 Mbps in Botley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Botley and 94.9% in East Cowes. Gigabit availability stands at 74.5% in Botley and 87% in East Cowes.
East Cowes is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (444 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 East Cowes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Botley and £1,290 in East Cowes. 71% of homes in Botley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.5% in East 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 East Cowes. The median age is 44.2 in Botley and 50.5 in East Cowes. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Botley and 48.4% in East Cowes. Owner-occupancy is 68.3% in Botley versus 67.6% in East Cowes.
| Indicator | Botley | East Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,143 | 8,424 |
| 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
How far apart are Botley and East Cowes?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Botley or East Cowes?
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