Town comparison
Carmarthen vs Llanelli
Which is better to live in? 13.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Llanelli is about 37% cheaper on average. Carmarthen has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Carmarthen
£260,182
Llanelli
£190,195
Crime Rate
Carmarthen
66.1
Llanelli
66.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Carmarthen
N/A
Llanelli
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Carmarthen
388.7
Llanelli
371.5
EPC Rating
Carmarthen
66.8
Llanelli
66.8
Median Income
Carmarthen
£28,903
Llanelli
£28,903
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesBuyers will find Llanelli more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,195 versus £260,182 in Carmarthen. The most affordable entry point in Carmarthen is a flat at £138,458, while in Llanelli it is a flat at £125,044.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 19% pricier in Carmarthen (£211,040 vs £177,346).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Carmarthen prices grew faster — 40% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesWith 66.1 offences per 1,000 people, Carmarthen is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Llanelli's 66.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Carmarthen is violent-crime, while in Llanelli 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 Carmarthen and Llanelli. Carmarthen has 0 schools and Llanelli has 0 schools.
Carmarthen School Inspection Breakdown
Llanelli School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Carmarthen | Llanelli |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 0 |
| Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Carmarthen enjoy 388.7 Mbps on average, while Llanelli lags behind at 371.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Carmarthen and 93.7% in Llanelli. Gigabit availability stands at 73.3% in Carmarthen and 70.2% in Llanelli.
Carmarthen is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (389 vs 372 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Carmarthen is band D (score 66.8), ahead of Llanelli's band D (score 66.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,425 in Carmarthen and £1,425 in Llanelli. 46.7% of homes in Carmarthen have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 46.7% in Llanelli.
Carmarthen has more energy-efficient housing — 46.7% reach band C or above, vs 46.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Carmarthen has a population of 16,448 while Llanelli has 42,143. Median household income is £28,903 in Carmarthen and £28,903 in Llanelli. The median age is 46.7 in Carmarthen and 46.7 in Llanelli. Employment rates stand at 52.7% in Carmarthen and 52.7% in Llanelli.
| Indicator | Carmarthen | Llanelli |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,448 | 42,143 |
| Median Age | 46.7 | 46.7 |
| Median Household Income | £28,903 | £28,903 |
| Employment Rate | 52.7% | 52.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.4% | 70.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 31.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Carmarthen and Llanelli?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Carmarthen or Llanelli?
Is Carmarthen or Llanelli safer?
Which has better schools, Carmarthen or Llanelli?
Which has faster broadband, Carmarthen or Llanelli?
Keep exploring