Town comparison
Canterbury vs Whitstable
Which is better to live in? 5.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Whitstable offers lower property prices by roughly 4%. Canterbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Whitstable edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Canterbury
£454,813
Whitstable
£436,260
Crime Rate
Canterbury
80.2
Whitstable
80.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Canterbury
92.3%
Whitstable
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Canterbury
323.5
Whitstable
396.7
EPC Rating
Canterbury
72
Whitstable
72
Median Income
Canterbury
£29,518
Whitstable
£29,518
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Whitstable is £436,260, which is 4% less than Canterbury at £454,813. The most affordable entry point in Canterbury is a flat at £201,512, while in Whitstable it is a flat at £223,946.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 23% pricier in Whitstable (£409,048 vs £316,541).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Canterbury prices grew faster — 32% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Canterbury (80.2 per 1,000) compared to Whitstable (80.3 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Canterbury is violent-crime, while in Whitstable 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 EastWhitstable has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 92.3% in Canterbury. Canterbury has 16 schools in total, while Whitstable has 8.
Canterbury School Inspection Breakdown
92.3% of 16 schools (9 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Whitstable School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Canterbury | Whitstable |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 8 |
| Primary | 9 | 7 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 92.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Whitstable offers faster average downloads at 396.7 Mbps, compared to 323.5 Mbps in Canterbury. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98% of premises in Canterbury and 97.8% in Whitstable. Gigabit availability stands at 57.9% in Canterbury and 75.6% in Whitstable.
Whitstable is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (397 vs 324 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Canterbury are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 72 (band C) in Whitstable. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Canterbury and £1,097 in Whitstable. 64% of homes in Canterbury have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64% in Whitstable.
Canterbury has more energy-efficient housing — 64% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,518 in Canterbury and £29,518 in Whitstable. The median age is 44.3 in Canterbury and 44.3 in Whitstable. Employment rates stand at 49.8% in Canterbury and 49.8% in Whitstable. Owner-occupancy is 64.8% in Canterbury versus 64.8% in Whitstable.
| Indicator | Canterbury | Whitstable |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 55,107 | 32,185 |
| Median Age | 44.3 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,518 | £29,518 |
| Employment Rate | 49.8% | 49.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.8% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 33.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Canterbury and Whitstable?
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