Cardiff vs Cowbridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Cardiff is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 37% lower. Cowbridge has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Cardiff
£334,109
Cowbridge
£526,862
Crime Rate
Cardiff
96.8
Cowbridge
63.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cardiff
N/A
Cowbridge
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Cardiff
483.3
Cowbridge
213.1
EPC Rating
Cardiff
73.7
Cowbridge
70.7
Median Income
Cardiff
£31,540
Cowbridge
£32,675
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesProperty in Cowbridge commands an average of £526,862, compared with £334,109 in Cardiff – a difference of 37%. The most affordable entry point in Cardiff is a flat at £173,611, while in Cowbridge it is a terraced at £372,671.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 61% pricier in Cowbridge (£441,833 vs £173,611).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowbridge prices grew faster — 29% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesCowbridge has a crime rate of 63 per 1,000 residents, which is 54% lower than Cardiff at 96.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cardiff is violent-crime, while in Cowbridge 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 WalesSchool quality data is not fully available for both Cardiff and Cowbridge. Cardiff has 0 schools and Cowbridge has 0 schools.
Cardiff School Inspection Breakdown
Cowbridge School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Cardiff | Cowbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 0 |
| Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 483.3 Mbps in Cardiff and 213.1 Mbps in Cowbridge. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.6% of premises in Cardiff and 91.9% in Cowbridge. Gigabit availability stands at 95.2% in Cardiff and 32.8% in Cowbridge.
Cardiff is the faster of the two by 127% on average download speed (483 vs 213 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Cardiff leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 73.7 (C), while Cowbridge averages 70.7 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £944 in Cardiff and £1,270 in Cowbridge. 73.5% of homes in Cardiff have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.2% in Cowbridge.
Cardiff has more energy-efficient housing — 73.5% reach band C or above, vs 62.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,675 in Cowbridge and £31,540 in Cardiff. The median age is 39 in Cardiff and 45.1 in Cowbridge. Owner-occupancy is 58% in Cardiff versus 71.9% in Cowbridge. Employment rates stand at 54.1% in Cardiff and 55.8% in Cowbridge.
| Indicator | Cardiff | Cowbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 347,880 | 3,649 |
| Median Age | 39 | 45.1 |
| Median Household Income | £31,540 | £32,675 |
| Employment Rate | 54.1% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 58% | 71.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40% | 37.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cardiff and Cowbridge?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cardiff or Cowbridge?
Is Cardiff or Cowbridge safer?
Which has better schools, Cardiff or Cowbridge?
Which has faster broadband, Cardiff or Cowbridge?
Keep exploring