Town comparison
Broadstairs vs Herne Bay
Which is better to live in? 12.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Herne Bay is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 17% lower. Herne Bay has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Broadstairs edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Broadstairs
£414,686
Herne Bay
£355,546
Crime Rate
Broadstairs
103.8
Herne Bay
80.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Broadstairs
100.0%
Herne Bay
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Broadstairs
418
Herne Bay
426.4
EPC Rating
Broadstairs
71.4
Herne Bay
72
Median Income
Broadstairs
£28,101
Herne Bay
£29,518
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Broadstairs commands an average of £414,686, compared with £355,546 in Herne Bay – a difference of 17%. The most affordable entry point in Broadstairs is a flat at £242,179, while in Herne Bay it is a flat at £164,413.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 47% pricier in Broadstairs (£242,179 vs £164,413).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Broadstairs prices grew faster — 37% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastHerne Bay has a crime rate of 80.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 29% lower than Broadstairs at 103.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Broadstairs is violent-crime, while in Herne Bay 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 EastFamilies may prefer Broadstairs, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Herne Bay. There are 10 schools in Broadstairs and 4 in Herne Bay.
Broadstairs School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (7 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Herne Bay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Broadstairs | Herne Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 4 |
| Primary | 7 | 4 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 426.4 Mbps in Herne Bay and 418.0 Mbps in Broadstairs. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Broadstairs and 97.1% in Herne Bay. Gigabit availability stands at 80.6% in Broadstairs and 82.7% in Herne Bay.
Herne Bay is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (426 vs 418 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Herne Bay, scoring 72 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Broadstairs. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,116 in Broadstairs and £1,097 in Herne Bay. 64.6% of homes in Broadstairs have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64% in Herne Bay.
Broadstairs has more energy-efficient housing — 64.6% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,518 in Herne Bay and £28,101 in Broadstairs. The median age is 46.1 in Broadstairs and 44.3 in Herne Bay. Employment rates stand at 51.3% in Broadstairs and 49.8% in Herne Bay. Owner-occupancy is 61.4% in Broadstairs versus 64.8% in Herne Bay. Broadstairs has a population of 25,780 and Herne Bay has 24,873.
| Indicator | Broadstairs | Herne Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,780 | 24,873 |
| Median Age | 46.1 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,101 | £29,518 |
| Employment Rate | 51.3% | 49.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.4% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.3% | 33.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Broadstairs and Herne Bay?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Broadstairs or Herne Bay?
Is Broadstairs or Herne Bay safer?
Which has better schools, Broadstairs or Herne Bay?
Which has faster broadband, Broadstairs or Herne Bay?
Keep exploring