Town comparison
Canterbury vs Margate
Which is better to live in? 14.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Margate offers lower property prices by roughly 54%. Canterbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Margate edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Canterbury
£454,813
Margate
£294,819
Crime Rate
Canterbury
80.2
Margate
103.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Canterbury
92.3%
Margate
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Canterbury
323.5
Margate
387.3
EPC Rating
Canterbury
72
Margate
71.4
Median Income
Canterbury
£29,518
Margate
£28,101
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Margate more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £294,819 versus £454,813 in Canterbury. The most affordable entry point in Canterbury is a flat at £201,512, while in Margate it is a flat at £169,852.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 39% pricier in Canterbury (£606,265 vs £435,216).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Margate prices grew faster — 46% vs 32%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Canterbury (80.2 per 1,000) compared to Margate (103.8 per 1,000), a 29% difference. The most common crime category in Canterbury is violent-crime, while in Margate 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 EastSchool quality favours Margate: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 92.3% in Canterbury.
Canterbury School Inspection Breakdown
92.3% of 16 schools (9 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Margate School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Canterbury | Margate |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 14 |
| Primary | 9 | 11 |
| Secondary | 7 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 92.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Margate enjoy 387.3 Mbps on average, while Canterbury lags behind at 323.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98% of premises in Canterbury and 97.8% in Margate. Gigabit availability stands at 57.9% in Canterbury and 73.2% in Margate.
Margate is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (387 vs 324 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Canterbury is band C (score 72), ahead of Margate's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Canterbury and £1,116 in Margate. 64% of homes in Canterbury have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.6% in Margate.
Margate has more energy-efficient housing — 64.6% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Canterbury has a population of 55,107 while Margate has 63,315. Median household income is £29,518 in Canterbury and £28,101 in Margate. The median age is 44.3 in Canterbury and 46.1 in Margate. Employment rates stand at 49.8% in Canterbury and 51.3% in Margate.
| Indicator | Canterbury | Margate |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,107 | 63,315 |
| Median Age | 44.3 | 46.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,518 | £28,101 |
| Employment Rate | 49.8% | 51.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.8% | 61.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 26.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Canterbury and Margate?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Canterbury or Margate?
Is Canterbury or Margate safer?
Which has better schools, Canterbury or Margate?
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