Carterton vs Fairford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Fairford wins on house prices with a 0% gap. Carterton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Fairford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Carterton
£480,214
Fairford
£478,257
Crime Rate
Carterton
43.6
Fairford
45.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Carterton
83.3%
Fairford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Carterton
446.4
Fairford
308.4
EPC Rating
Carterton
68.4
Fairford
69.5
Median Income
Carterton
£32,133
Fairford
£32,467
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastProperty in Carterton commands an average of £480,214, compared with £478,257 in Fairford – a difference of 0%. The most affordable entry point in Carterton is a flat at £280,296, while in Fairford it is a flat at £164,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 71% pricier in Carterton (£280,296 vs £164,167).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Carterton prices grew faster — 44% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Carterton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 43.6 per 1,000 versus 45 per 1,000 in Fairford. The most common crime category in Carterton is violent-crime, while in Fairford 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 EastFamilies may prefer Fairford, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Carterton. There are 6 schools in Carterton and 2 in Fairford.
Carterton School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fairford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Carterton | Fairford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 2 |
| Primary | 5 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 446.4 Mbps in Carterton and 308.4 Mbps in Fairford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Carterton and 94.1% in Fairford. Gigabit availability stands at 84.1% in Carterton and 55.2% in Fairford.
Carterton is the faster of the two by 45% on average download speed (446 vs 308 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Fairford, scoring 69.5 on average (band C) compared to 68.4 (band C) in Carterton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,534 in Carterton and £1,394 in Fairford. 58.4% of homes in Carterton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Fairford.
Fairford has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 58.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,466.8 in Fairford and £32,132.5 in Carterton. The median age is 47.3 in Carterton and 46.2 in Fairford. Employment rates stand at 60.3% in Carterton and 60.7% in Fairford. Owner-occupancy is 65.9% in Carterton versus 67.9% in Fairford. Carterton has a population of 17,765 and Fairford has 4,240.
| Indicator | Carterton | Fairford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,765 | 4,240 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 46.2 |
| Median Household Income | £32,132.5 | £32,466.8 |
| Employment Rate | 60.3% | 60.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.9% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39% | 39% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Carterton and Fairford?
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