Bournemouth vs Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bournemouth offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Bournemouth has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bournemouth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bournemouth
£347,991
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
£455,038
Crime Rate
Bournemouth
56.9
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
56.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bournemouth
96.6%
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
81.8%
Avg Download Speed
Bournemouth
415.2
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
405.8
EPC Rating
Bournemouth
69.8
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
68.9
Median Income
Bournemouth
£30,213
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
£29,719
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Bournemouth more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £347,991 versus £455,038 in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole). The most affordable entry point in Bournemouth is a flat at £214,865, while in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) it is a flat at £261,355.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 20% pricier in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) (£363,249 vs £291,993).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bournemouth prices grew faster — 34% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Bournemouth (56.9 per 1,000) compared to Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) (56.9 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Bournemouth is violent-crime, while in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) 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 WestSchool quality favours Bournemouth: 96.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 81.8% in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole).
Bournemouth School Inspection Breakdown
96.6% of 39 schools (27 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) School Inspection Breakdown
81.8% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bournemouth | Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 39 | 13 |
| Primary | 27 | 10 |
| Secondary | 12 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 96.6% | 81.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bournemouth enjoy 415.2 Mbps on average, while Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) lags behind at 405.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.4% of premises in Bournemouth and 96.3% in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole). Gigabit availability stands at 75.5% in Bournemouth and 77.9% in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole).
Bournemouth is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (415 vs 406 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bournemouth is band C (score 69.8), ahead of Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole)'s band C (score 68.9). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Bournemouth and £1,257 in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole). 63% of homes in Bournemouth have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.1% in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole).
Bournemouth has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 59.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bournemouth has a population of 196,132 while Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) has 49,256. Median household income is £30,213 in Bournemouth and £29,719.3 in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole). The median age is 45.5 in Bournemouth and 49.3 in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole). Employment rates stand at 55.5% in Bournemouth and 53.5% in Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole).
| Indicator | Bournemouth | Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 196,132 | 49,256 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 49.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,213 | £29,719.3 |
| Employment Rate | 55.5% | 53.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.8% | 69.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.1% | 31.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bournemouth and Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bournemouth or Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole)?
Is Bournemouth or Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole) safer?
Which has better schools, Bournemouth or Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole)?
Which has faster broadband, Bournemouth or Christchurch (bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole)?
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