Town comparison
Colden Common vs Hedge End
Which is better to live in? 5.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Hedge End offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Hedge End has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Colden Common edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Colden Common
£427,667
Hedge End
£343,737
Crime Rate
Colden Common
55.4
Hedge End
54.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Colden Common
100.0%
Hedge End
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Colden Common
173.6
Hedge End
406.8
EPC Rating
Colden Common
72.2
Hedge End
73.2
Median Income
Colden Common
£35,169
Hedge End
£35,092
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Hedge End is £343,737, which is 24% less than Colden Common at £427,667. The most affordable entry point in Colden Common is a flat at £168,680, while in Hedge End it is a flat at £178,721.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 21% pricier in Colden Common (£562,447 vs £463,439).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Colden Common prices grew faster — 6% vs 4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Hedge End (54.7 per 1,000) compared to Colden Common (55.4 per 1,000), a 1% difference. The most common crime category in Colden Common is violent-crime, while in Hedge End 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 EastColden Common has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Hedge End. Colden Common has 1 schools in total, while Hedge End has 8.
Colden Common School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hedge End School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Colden Common | Hedge End |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 8 |
| Primary | 1 | 6 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Hedge End offers faster average downloads at 406.8 Mbps, compared to 173.6 Mbps in Colden Common. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 77.9% of premises in Colden Common and 97% in Hedge End. Gigabit availability stands at 25.7% in Colden Common and 74.5% in Hedge End.
Hedge End is the faster of the two by 134% on average download speed (407 vs 174 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Hedge End are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.2 (band C) versus 72.2 (band C) in Colden Common. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,162 in Colden Common and £1,092 in Hedge End. 69.3% of homes in Colden Common have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71% in Hedge End.
Hedge End has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 69.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,168.5 in Colden Common and £35,091.5 in Hedge End. The median age is 44 in Colden Common and 44.2 in Hedge End. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Colden Common and 60.4% in Hedge End. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Colden Common versus 68.3% in Hedge End.
| Indicator | Colden Common | Hedge End |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,827 | 23,195 |
| Median Age | 44 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £35,168.5 | £35,091.5 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 60.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 37.2% | 39% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Colden Common and Hedge End?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Colden Common or Hedge End?
Is Colden Common or Hedge End safer?
Which has better schools, Colden Common or Hedge End?
Which has faster broadband, Colden Common or Hedge End?
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