Bowburn vs Fence Houses
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Fence Houses is about 47% cheaper on average. Bowburn has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowburn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bowburn
£142,993
Fence Houses
£97,500
Crime Rate
Bowburn
89.4
Fence Houses
94.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bowburn
100.0%
Fence Houses
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bowburn
349.2
Fence Houses
455.9
EPC Rating
Bowburn
71.5
Fence Houses
72.4
Median Income
Bowburn
£28,414
Fence Houses
£28,343
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastBuyers will find Fence Houses more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £97,500 versus £142,993 in Bowburn. The most affordable entry point in Bowburn is a terraced at £95,398, while in Fence Houses it is a semi-detached at £97,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 46% pricier in Bowburn (£142,015 vs £97,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 7 years, Bowburn prices grew faster — 11% vs -2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastCrime is lower in Bowburn (89.4 per 1,000) compared to Fence Houses (94.6 per 1,000), a 6% difference. The most common crime category in Bowburn is violent-crime, while in Fence Houses 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 North EastSchool quality favours Bowburn: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Fence Houses.
Bowburn School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fence Houses School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bowburn | Fence Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Fence Houses enjoy 455.9 Mbps on average, while Bowburn lags behind at 349.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Bowburn and 96.4% in Fence Houses. Gigabit availability stands at 64.5% in Bowburn and 89.1% in Fence Houses.
Fence Houses is the faster of the two by 31% on average download speed (456 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Fence Houses is band C (score 72.4), ahead of Bowburn's band C (score 71.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,191 in Bowburn and £1,124 in Fence Houses. 68.5% of homes in Bowburn have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.4% in Fence Houses.
Fence Houses has more energy-efficient housing — 71.4% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bowburn has a population of 4,843 while Fence Houses has 6,945. Median household income is £28,414 in Bowburn and £28,342.5 in Fence Houses. The median age is 44.7 in Bowburn and 44.5 in Fence Houses. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Bowburn and 51.5% in Fence Houses.
| Indicator | Bowburn | Fence Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,843 | 6,945 |
| Median Age | 44.7 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,414 | £28,342.5 |
| Employment Rate | 51.2% | 51.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.5% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 25.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bowburn and Fence Houses?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bowburn or Fence Houses?
Is Bowburn or Fence Houses safer?
Which has better schools, Bowburn or Fence Houses?
Which has faster broadband, Bowburn or Fence Houses?
Keep exploring