Town comparison
Bridgend vs Neath
Which is better to live in? 14.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Neath is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 40% lower. Neath has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Bridgend
£251,125
Neath
£179,441
Crime Rate
Bridgend
70.7
Neath
69.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bridgend
N/A
Neath
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Bridgend
426.7
Neath
344.8
EPC Rating
Bridgend
69.6
Neath
70.6
Median Income
Bridgend
£30,528
Neath
£29,607
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesProperty in Bridgend commands an average of £251,125, compared with £179,441 in Neath – a difference of 40%. The most affordable entry point in Bridgend is a flat at £143,871, while in Neath it is a flat at £85,413.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 68% pricier in Bridgend (£143,871 vs £85,413).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bridgend prices grew faster — 45% vs 40%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesNeath has a crime rate of 69.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 2% lower than Bridgend at 70.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bridgend is violent-crime, while in Neath 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 WalesSchool quality data is not fully available for both Bridgend and Neath. Bridgend has 0 schools and Neath has 0 schools.
Bridgend School Inspection Breakdown
Neath School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Bridgend | Neath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 0 |
| Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 426.7 Mbps in Bridgend and 344.8 Mbps in Neath. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Bridgend and 94% in Neath. Gigabit availability stands at 80.8% in Bridgend and 63.6% in Neath.
Bridgend is the faster of the two by 24% on average download speed (427 vs 345 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Neath leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.6 (C), while Bridgend averages 69.6 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,199 in Bridgend and £1,363 in Neath. 61.7% of homes in Bridgend have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.6% in Neath.
Bridgend has more energy-efficient housing — 61.7% reach band C or above, vs 59.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,528 in Bridgend and £29,607.3 in Neath. The median age is 44.4 in Bridgend and 47 in Neath. Owner-occupancy is 70.5% in Bridgend versus 67% in Neath. Employment rates stand at 53.6% in Bridgend and 52.7% in Neath.
| Indicator | Bridgend | Neath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,751 | 40,738 |
| Median Age | 44.4 | 47 |
| Median Household Income | £30,528 | £29,607.3 |
| Employment Rate | 53.6% | 52.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30% | 28.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bridgend and Neath?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bridgend or Neath?
Is Bridgend or Neath safer?
Which has better schools, Bridgend or Neath?
Which has faster broadband, Bridgend or Neath?
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