Botley vs Romsey
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Botley offers lower property prices by roughly 11%. Romsey has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Botley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Botley
£430,994
Romsey
£482,400
Crime Rate
Botley
54.7
Romsey
52.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Botley
100.0%
Romsey
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Botley
406.8
Romsey
312.3
EPC Rating
Botley
73.2
Romsey
70
Median Income
Botley
£35,092
Romsey
£31,971
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Botley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £430,994 versus £482,400 in Romsey. The most affordable entry point in Botley is a flat at £225,000, while in Romsey it is a flat at £242,739.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 28% pricier in Romsey (£711,315 vs £509,840).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Romsey prices grew faster — 31% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Romsey (52.4 per 1,000) compared to Botley (54.7 per 1,000), a 4% difference. The most common crime category in Botley is violent-crime, while in Romsey 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 EastSchool quality favours Botley: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Romsey.
Botley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Romsey School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Botley | Romsey |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 7 |
| Primary | 1 | 5 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Botley enjoy 406.8 Mbps on average, while Romsey lags behind at 312.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Botley and 88.6% in Romsey. Gigabit availability stands at 74.5% in Botley and 55.9% in Romsey.
Botley is the faster of the two by 30% on average download speed (407 vs 312 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Botley is band C (score 73.2), ahead of Romsey's band C (score 70). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,092 in Botley and £1,262 in Romsey. 71% of homes in Botley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.8% in Romsey.
Botley has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 62.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Botley has a population of 3,143 while Romsey has 19,643. Median household income is £35,091.5 in Botley and £31,970.8 in Romsey. The median age is 44.2 in Botley and 46.7 in Romsey. Employment rates stand at 60.4% in Botley and 58.2% in Romsey.
| Indicator | Botley | Romsey |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,143 | 19,643 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 46.7 |
| Median Household Income | £35,091.5 | £31,970.8 |
| Employment Rate | 60.4% | 58.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.3% | 68.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39% | 36.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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