Cambourne vs Cottenham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Cambourne wins on house prices with a 30% gap. Cambourne has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cambourne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cambourne
£311,146
Cottenham
£444,751
Crime Rate
Cambourne
42.6
Cottenham
46.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cambourne
100.0%
Cottenham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cambourne
415.8
Cottenham
475.4
EPC Rating
Cambourne
73.9
Cottenham
73.9
Median Income
Cambourne
£37,695
Cottenham
£37,695
House Prices (2024)
Most affordable in East of EnglandAt £311,146, Cambourne undercuts Cottenham (£444,751) by around 30% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Cambourne is a flat at £211,870, while in Cottenham it is a flat at £201,667.
Average Price by Property Type (2024)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 19% pricier in Cambourne (£410,910 vs £345,748).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 3 years, Cottenham prices grew faster — 36% vs -99%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Cambourne experience less crime overall, with a rate of 42.6 per 1,000 versus 46 per 1,000 in Cottenham. The most common crime category in Cambourne is violent-crime, while in Cottenham 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 East of EnglandOf the 4 schools in Cambourne, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Cottenham, which has 2 schools, the figure is 100%.
Cambourne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cottenham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cambourne | Cottenham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Cottenham averages 475.4 Mbps – ahead of Cambourne's 415.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Cambourne and 98.2% in Cottenham. Gigabit availability stands at 79.2% in Cambourne and 93% in Cottenham.
Cottenham is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (475 vs 416 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Cambourne, scoring 73.9 on average (band C) compared to 73.9 (band C) in Cottenham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,068 in Cambourne and £1,068 in Cottenham. 72.6% of homes in Cambourne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.6% in Cottenham.
Cambourne has more energy-efficient housing — 72.6% reach band C or above, vs 72.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,695 in Cambourne and £37,695 in Cottenham. The median age is 40.5 in Cambourne and 40.5 in Cottenham. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Cambourne and 59.9% in Cottenham. Owner-occupancy is 56.5% in Cambourne versus 56.5% in Cottenham. Cambourne has a population of 11,071 and Cottenham has 6,156.
| Indicator | Cambourne | Cottenham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,071 | 6,156 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 40.5 |
| Median Household Income | £37,695 | £37,695 |
| Employment Rate | 59.9% | 59.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 56.5% | 56.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 51.8% | 51.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cambourne and Cottenham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cambourne or Cottenham?
Is Cambourne or Cottenham safer?
Which has better schools, Cambourne or Cottenham?
Which has faster broadband, Cambourne or Cottenham?
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