Bursledon vs Cowes
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.1 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Cowes wins on house prices with a 14% gap. Bursledon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bursledon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bursledon
£382,717
Cowes
£335,058
Crime Rate
Bursledon
54.7
Cowes
75.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bursledon
100.0%
Cowes
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bursledon
404.9
Cowes
468.4
EPC Rating
Bursledon
72.6
Cowes
67
Median Income
Bursledon
£34,313
Cowes
£27,938
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Bursledon commands an average of £382,717, compared with £335,058 in Cowes – a difference of 14%. The most affordable entry point in Bursledon is a flat at £199,691, while in Cowes it is a flat at £253,949.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 21% pricier in Bursledon (£580,825 vs £480,950).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowes prices grew faster — 36% vs 2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Bursledon experience less crime overall, with a rate of 54.7 per 1,000 versus 75.7 per 1,000 in Cowes. The most common crime category in Bursledon is violent-crime, while in Cowes 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 Bursledon, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Cowes. There are 2 schools in Bursledon and 4 in Cowes.
Bursledon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bursledon | Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 4 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 468.4 Mbps in Cowes and 404.9 Mbps in Bursledon. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.3% of premises in Bursledon and 97% in Cowes. Gigabit availability stands at 75.5% in Bursledon and 92.2% in Cowes.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (468 vs 405 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bursledon, scoring 72.6 on average (band C) compared to 67 (band C) in Cowes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,030 in Bursledon and £1,290 in Cowes. 70.4% of homes in Bursledon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.5% in Cowes.
Bursledon has more energy-efficient housing — 70.4% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £34,313 in Bursledon and £27,938 in Cowes. The median age is 45.9 in Bursledon and 50.5 in Cowes. Employment rates stand at 60.6% in Bursledon and 48.4% in Cowes. Owner-occupancy is 74.8% in Bursledon versus 67.6% in Cowes. Bursledon has a population of 8,325 and Cowes has 14,366.
| Indicator | Bursledon | Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,325 | 14,366 |
| Median Age | 45.9 | 50.5 |
| Median Household Income | £34,313 | £27,938 |
| Employment Rate | 60.6% | 48.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 74.8% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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