Town comparison
Cheddar vs Locking
Which is better to live in? 6.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Locking offers lower property prices by roughly 28%. Locking has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Cheddar
£394,267
Locking
£308,002
Crime Rate
Cheddar
83.0
Locking
82.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cheddar
N/A
Locking
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cheddar
405.7
Locking
348.4
EPC Rating
Cheddar
68.4
Locking
69
Median Income
Cheddar
£28,807
Locking
£29,605
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Locking more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £308,002 versus £394,267 in Cheddar. The most affordable entry point in Cheddar is a flat at £137,639, while in Locking it is a flat at £189,382.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 35% pricier in Cheddar (£558,296 vs £414,521).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cheddar prices grew faster — 44% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Locking (82.7 per 1,000) compared to Cheddar (83 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Cheddar is violent-crime, while in Locking 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 data is not fully available for both Cheddar and Locking. Cheddar has 3 schools and Locking has 2 schools.
Cheddar School Inspection Breakdown
Locking School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cheddar | Locking |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Cheddar enjoy 405.7 Mbps on average, while Locking lags behind at 348.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.7% of premises in Cheddar and 92.8% in Locking. Gigabit availability stands at 78% in Cheddar and 64.8% in Locking.
Cheddar is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (406 vs 348 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Locking is band C (score 69), ahead of Cheddar's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,363 in Cheddar and £1,326 in Locking. 57.9% of homes in Cheddar have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.4% in Locking.
Locking has more energy-efficient housing — 59.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Cheddar has a population of 5,841 while Locking has 3,819. Median household income is £29,604.6 in Locking and £28,807 in Cheddar. The median age is 47.3 in Cheddar and 47.3 in Locking. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Cheddar and 56.9% in Locking.
| Indicator | Cheddar | Locking |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,841 | 3,819 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,807 | £29,604.6 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.5% | 31.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cheddar and Locking?
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