Cambourne vs Waterbeach
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Cambourne is about 30% cheaper on average. Cambourne has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Cambourne
£311,146
Waterbeach
£442,776
Crime Rate
Cambourne
42.6
Waterbeach
45.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cambourne
100.0%
Waterbeach
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Cambourne
415.8
Waterbeach
313.9
EPC Rating
Cambourne
73.9
Waterbeach
73.5
Median Income
Cambourne
£37,695
Waterbeach
£35,075
House Prices (2024)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Cambourne is £311,146, which is 30% less than Waterbeach at £442,776. The most affordable entry point in Cambourne is a flat at £211,870, while in Waterbeach it is a flat at £321,875.
Average Price by Property Type (2024)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Waterbeach (£321,875 vs £211,870).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 3 years, Waterbeach prices grew faster — 10% vs -99%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Cambourne (42.6 per 1,000) compared to Waterbeach (45.6 per 1,000), a 7% difference. The most common crime category in Cambourne is violent-crime, while in Waterbeach 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 EnglandSchool quality data is not fully available for both Cambourne and Waterbeach. Cambourne has 4 schools and Waterbeach has 1 schools.
Cambourne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Waterbeach School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Cambourne | Waterbeach |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 1 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cambourne offers faster average downloads at 415.8 Mbps, compared to 313.9 Mbps in Waterbeach. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Cambourne and 93.5% in Waterbeach. Gigabit availability stands at 79.2% in Cambourne and 54.4% in Waterbeach.
Cambourne is the faster of the two by 32% on average download speed (416 vs 314 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cambourne are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.9 (band C) versus 73.5 (band C) in Waterbeach. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,068 in Cambourne and £1,166 in Waterbeach. 72.6% of homes in Cambourne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.6% in Waterbeach.
Cambourne has more energy-efficient housing — 72.6% reach band C or above, vs 70.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £37,695 in Cambourne and £35,074.5 in Waterbeach. The median age is 40.5 in Cambourne and 44.4 in Waterbeach. Employment rates stand at 59.9% in Cambourne and 62.9% in Waterbeach. Owner-occupancy is 56.5% in Cambourne versus 68.5% in Waterbeach.
| Indicator | Cambourne | Waterbeach |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,071 | 5,375 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 44.4 |
| Median Household Income | £37,695 | £35,074.5 |
| Employment Rate | 59.9% | 62.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 56.5% | 68.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 51.8% | 41.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cambourne and Waterbeach?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cambourne or Waterbeach?
Is Cambourne or Waterbeach safer?
Which has better schools, Cambourne or Waterbeach?
Which has faster broadband, Cambourne or Waterbeach?
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