Town comparison
Cockermouth vs Whitehaven
Which is better to live in? 12.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Whitehaven is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 43% lower. For families, Cockermouth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cockermouth
£266,064
Whitehaven
£186,273
Crime Rate
Cockermouth
9.4
Whitehaven
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cockermouth
100.0%
Whitehaven
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cockermouth
169.3
Whitehaven
273.2
EPC Rating
Cockermouth
67.3
Whitehaven
67.3
Median Income
Cockermouth
£31,136
Whitehaven
£31,136
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £186,273, Whitehaven undercuts Cockermouth (£266,064) by around 43% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Cockermouth is a flat at £142,508, while in Whitehaven it is a flat at £117,179.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 53% pricier in Cockermouth (£191,878 vs £125,175).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Whitehaven prices grew faster — 26% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime rate data is not available for both Cockermouth and Whitehaven at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in North WestOf the 3 schools in Cockermouth, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Whitehaven, which has 13 schools, the figure is 100%.
Cockermouth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Whitehaven School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (11 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cockermouth | Whitehaven |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 13 |
| Primary | 2 | 11 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Whitehaven averages 273.2 Mbps – ahead of Cockermouth's 169.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 90.5% of premises in Cockermouth and 97.6% in Whitehaven. Gigabit availability stands at 22.7% in Cockermouth and 46.2% in Whitehaven.
Whitehaven is the faster of the two by 61% on average download speed (273 vs 169 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Cockermouth, scoring 67.3 on average (band C) compared to 67.3 (band C) in Whitehaven. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,436 in Cockermouth and £1,436 in Whitehaven. 50.4% of homes in Cockermouth have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.4% in Whitehaven.
Cockermouth has more energy-efficient housing — 50.4% reach band C or above, vs 50.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,136 in Cockermouth and £31,136 in Whitehaven. The median age is 46.6 in Cockermouth and 46.6 in Whitehaven. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Cockermouth and 55.8% in Whitehaven. Owner-occupancy is 68.8% in Cockermouth versus 68.8% in Whitehaven. Cockermouth has a population of 9,237 and Whitehaven has 23,028.
| Indicator | Cockermouth | Whitehaven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,237 | 23,028 |
| Median Age | 46.6 | 46.6 |
| Median Household Income | £31,136 | £31,136 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.8% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cockermouth and Whitehaven?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cockermouth or Whitehaven?
Is Cockermouth or Whitehaven safer?
Which has better schools, Cockermouth or Whitehaven?
Which has faster broadband, Cockermouth or Whitehaven?
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