Town comparison
Carbis Bay vs Porthleven
Which is better to live in? 10.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Porthleven is about 9% cheaper on average. Carbis Bay has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Carbis Bay edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Carbis Bay
£402,635
Porthleven
£367,786
Crime Rate
Carbis Bay
62.0
Porthleven
62.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Carbis Bay
100.0%
Porthleven
0.0%
Avg Download Speed
Carbis Bay
131.1
Porthleven
295.6
EPC Rating
Carbis Bay
66.2
Porthleven
66.2
Median Income
Carbis Bay
£27,819
Porthleven
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Porthleven more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £367,786 versus £402,635 in Carbis Bay. The most affordable entry point in Carbis Bay is a terraced at £277,727, while in Porthleven it is a terraced at £276,150.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 19% pricier in Carbis Bay (£551,456 vs £463,422).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Porthleven prices grew faster — 35% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Carbis Bay (62 per 1,000) compared to Porthleven (62.2 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Carbis Bay is violent-crime, while in Porthleven 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 WestSchool quality favours Carbis Bay: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 0% in Porthleven.
Carbis Bay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Porthleven School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Carbis Bay | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 1 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 0% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Porthleven enjoy 295.6 Mbps on average, while Carbis Bay lags behind at 131.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.1% of premises in Carbis Bay and 86.1% in Porthleven. Gigabit availability stands at 13% in Carbis Bay and 53% in Porthleven.
Porthleven is the faster of the two by 125% on average download speed (296 vs 131 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Carbis Bay is band C (score 66.2), ahead of Porthleven's band C (score 66.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Carbis Bay and £1,418 in Porthleven. 51.5% of homes in Carbis Bay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in Porthleven.
Carbis Bay has more energy-efficient housing — 51.5% reach band C or above, vs 51.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Carbis Bay has a population of 3,967 while Porthleven has 3,118. Median household income is £27,819 in Carbis Bay and £27,819 in Porthleven. The median age is 47.6 in Carbis Bay and 47.6 in Porthleven. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Carbis Bay and 53.3% in Porthleven.
| Indicator | Carbis Bay | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,967 | 3,118 |
| Median Age | 47.6 | 47.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,819 | £27,819 |
| Employment Rate | 53.3% | 53.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.2% | 66.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.6% | 30.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Carbis Bay and Porthleven?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Carbis Bay or Porthleven?
Is Carbis Bay or Porthleven safer?
Which has better schools, Carbis Bay or Porthleven?
Which has faster broadband, Carbis Bay or Porthleven?
Keep exploring