Bristol vs Thornbury
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Thornbury offers lower property prices by roughly 18%. Thornbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bristol edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bristol
£438,474
Thornbury
£370,208
Crime Rate
Bristol
130.3
Thornbury
72.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bristol
86.2%
Thornbury
83.3%
Avg Download Speed
Bristol
500
Thornbury
365.3
EPC Rating
Bristol
71.3
Thornbury
72.7
Median Income
Bristol
£32,799
Thornbury
£33,798
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Thornbury more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £370,208 versus £438,474 in Bristol. The most affordable entry point in Bristol is a flat at £278,270, while in Thornbury it is a flat at £201,225.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 45% pricier in Bristol (£392,319 vs £270,318).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bristol prices grew faster — 38% vs 24%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Thornbury (72.3 per 1,000) compared to Bristol (130.3 per 1,000), a 80% difference. The most common crime category in Bristol is violent-crime, while in Thornbury 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 Bristol: 86.2% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 83.3% in Thornbury.
Bristol School Inspection Breakdown
86.2% of 115 schools (93 primary, 22 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Thornbury School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bristol | Thornbury |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 115 | 7 |
| Primary | 93 | 6 |
| Secondary | 22 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 86.2% | 83.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bristol enjoy 500.0 Mbps on average, while Thornbury lags behind at 365.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 100% of premises in Bristol and 94.9% in Thornbury. Gigabit availability stands at 100% in Bristol and 68.7% in Thornbury.
Bristol is the faster of the two by 37% on average download speed (500 vs 365 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Thornbury is band C (score 72.7), ahead of Bristol's band C (score 71.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,044 in Bristol and £1,091 in Thornbury. 66.3% of homes in Bristol have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.4% in Thornbury.
Thornbury has more energy-efficient housing — 69.4% reach band C or above, vs 66.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bristol has a population of 425,196 while Thornbury has 14,008. Median household income is £33,798 in Thornbury and £32,799 in Bristol. The median age is 38.2 in Bristol and 43 in Thornbury. Employment rates stand at 61.2% in Bristol and 62.2% in Thornbury.
| Indicator | Bristol | Thornbury |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 425,196 | 14,008 |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £32,799 | £33,798 |
| Employment Rate | 61.2% | 62.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 54% | 72.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 42.1% | 33% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bristol and Thornbury?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bristol or Thornbury?
Is Bristol or Thornbury safer?
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