Town comparison
Brixham vs Paignton
Which is better to live in? 4.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Paignton is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Brixham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Paignton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brixham
£340,170
Paignton
£287,841
Crime Rate
Brixham
93.4
Paignton
93.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brixham
83.3%
Paignton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brixham
367.1
Paignton
415.2
EPC Rating
Brixham
67.3
Paignton
67.8
Median Income
Brixham
£28,016
Paignton
£26,577
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £287,841, Paignton undercuts Brixham (£340,170) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Brixham is a flat at £167,862, while in Paignton it is a flat at £158,765.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 20% pricier in Brixham (£476,187 vs £396,684).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brixham prices grew faster — 43% vs 43%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestBrixham has a crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Paignton at 93.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brixham is violent-crime, while in Paignton 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 WestOf the 7 schools in Brixham, 83.3% are in the top two inspection bands. In Paignton, which has 15 schools, the figure is 100%.
Brixham School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paignton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 15 schools (12 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brixham | Paignton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 15 |
| Primary | 5 | 12 |
| Secondary | 2 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Paignton averages 415.2 Mbps – ahead of Brixham's 367.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94% of premises in Brixham and 93.9% in Paignton. Gigabit availability stands at 68.7% in Brixham and 78.7% in Paignton.
Paignton is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (415 vs 367 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Paignton, scoring 67.8 on average (band C) compared to 67.3 (band C) in Brixham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Brixham and £1,177 in Paignton. 54.2% of homes in Brixham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.2% in Paignton.
Paignton has more energy-efficient housing — 55.2% reach band C or above, vs 54.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,016 in Brixham and £26,577 in Paignton. The median age is 49.6 in Brixham and 49 in Paignton. Employment rates stand at 52.2% in Brixham and 50.4% in Paignton. Owner-occupancy is 67.3% in Brixham versus 64.1% in Paignton. Brixham has a population of 17,839 and Paignton has 67,772.
| Indicator | Brixham | Paignton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,839 | 67,772 |
| Median Age | 49.6 | 49 |
| Median Household Income | £28,016 | £26,577 |
| Employment Rate | 52.2% | 50.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.3% | 64.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.6% | 25.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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