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Bridgwater vs Ilminster

Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.3 miles apart.

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The verdict

Overall, Bridgwater offers lower property prices by roughly 10%. Bridgwater has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ilminster edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Bridgwater

£293,276

Ilminster

£325,338

Crime Rate

Bridgwater

83.1

Ilminster

83.4

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Bridgwater

76.9%

Ilminster

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Bridgwater

444.8

Ilminster

347.2

EPC Rating

Bridgwater

68.4

Ilminster

68.4

Median Income

Bridgwater

£28,807

Ilminster

£28,807

Buyers will find Bridgwater more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £293,276 versus £325,338 in Ilminster. The most affordable entry point in Bridgwater is a flat at £146,556, while in Ilminster it is a flat at £154,250.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: terraced homes are 13% pricier in Ilminster (£248,433 vs £216,128).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Bridgwater prices grew faster — 38% vs 29%.

With 83.1 offences per 1,000 people, Bridgwater is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Ilminster's 83.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bridgwater is violent-crime, while in Ilminster it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

School quality favours Ilminster: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 76.9% in Bridgwater.

Bridgwater School Inspection Breakdown

76.9% of 14 schools (10 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Ilminster School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

MetricBridgwaterIlminster
Total Schools141
Primary101
Secondary40
% Top two bands76.9%100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Internet users in Bridgwater enjoy 444.8 Mbps on average, while Ilminster lags behind at 347.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.4% of premises in Bridgwater and 87.1% in Ilminster. Gigabit availability stands at 86.7% in Bridgwater and 65.4% in Ilminster.

Bridgwater is the faster of the two by 28% on average download speed (445 vs 347 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

The average EPC rating in Bridgwater is band C (score 68.4), ahead of Ilminster's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Bridgwater and £1,363 in Ilminster. 57.9% of homes in Bridgwater have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.9% in Ilminster.

Bridgwater has more energy-efficient housing — 57.9% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Bridgwater has a population of 47,730 while Ilminster has 5,961. Median household income is £28,807 in Bridgwater and £28,807 in Ilminster. The median age is 47.3 in Bridgwater and 47.3 in Ilminster. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Bridgwater and 56.8% in Ilminster.

IndicatorBridgwaterIlminster
Population47,7305,961
Median Age47.347.3
Median Household Income£28,807£28,807
Employment Rate56.8%56.8%
Owner Occupied67.6%67.6%
Degree-Level Qualified30.5%30.5%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Bridgwater and Ilminster?
Bridgwater and Ilminster are approximately 14.3 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bridgwater or Ilminster?
Bridgwater is cheaper, with an average house price of £293,276.
Is Bridgwater or Ilminster safer?
Bridgwater has the lower crime rate at 83.1 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Bridgwater or Ilminster?
Ilminster has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.
Which has faster broadband, Bridgwater or Ilminster?
Bridgwater has faster average broadband at 444.8 Mbps.

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