Bridgwater vs Locking
Which is better to live in? Distance: 15.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Bridgwater is about 5% cheaper on average. Locking has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Locking edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bridgwater
£293,276
Locking
£308,002
Crime Rate
Bridgwater
83.1
Locking
82.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bridgwater
76.9%
Locking
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bridgwater
444.8
Locking
348.4
EPC Rating
Bridgwater
68.4
Locking
69
Median Income
Bridgwater
£28,807
Locking
£29,605
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Bridgwater is £293,276, which is 5% less than Locking at £308,002. The most affordable entry point in Bridgwater is a flat at £146,556, while in Locking it is a flat at £189,382.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 23% pricier in Locking (£189,382 vs £146,556).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bridgwater prices grew faster — 38% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Locking (82.7 per 1,000) compared to Bridgwater (83.1 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Bridgwater is violent-crime, while in Locking 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 WestLocking has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 76.9% in Bridgwater. Bridgwater has 14 schools in total, while Locking has 2.
Bridgwater School Inspection Breakdown
76.9% of 14 schools (10 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Locking School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bridgwater | Locking |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 2 |
| Primary | 10 | 2 |
| Secondary | 4 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 76.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bridgwater offers faster average downloads at 444.8 Mbps, compared to 348.4 Mbps in Locking. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.4% of premises in Bridgwater and 92.8% in Locking. Gigabit availability stands at 86.7% in Bridgwater and 64.8% in Locking.
Bridgwater is the faster of the two by 28% on average download speed (445 vs 348 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Locking are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69 (band C) versus 68.4 (band C) in Bridgwater. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Bridgwater and £1,326 in Locking. 57.9% of homes in Bridgwater have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.4% in Locking.
Locking has more energy-efficient housing — 59.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,604.6 in Locking and £28,807 in Bridgwater. The median age is 47.3 in Bridgwater and 47.3 in Locking. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Bridgwater and 56.9% in Locking. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Bridgwater versus 68.4% in Locking.
| Indicator | Bridgwater | Locking |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,730 | 3,819 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £29,604.6 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 31.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bridgwater and Locking?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bridgwater or Locking?
Is Bridgwater or Locking safer?
Which has better schools, Bridgwater or Locking?
Which has faster broadband, Bridgwater or Locking?
Keep exploring