Cowes vs Denmead
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Cowes is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 19% lower. Denmead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cowes edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cowes
£335,058
Denmead
£413,244
Crime Rate
Cowes
75.7
Denmead
55.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cowes
100.0%
Denmead
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cowes
468.4
Denmead
409
EPC Rating
Cowes
67
Denmead
71.4
Median Income
Cowes
£27,938
Denmead
£33,166
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £335,058, Cowes undercuts Denmead (£413,244) by around 19% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Cowes is a flat at £253,949, while in Denmead it is a flat at £185,118.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 37% pricier in Cowes (£253,949 vs £185,118).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowes prices grew faster — 36% vs 17%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastDenmead has a crime rate of 55.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 36% lower than Cowes at 75.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cowes is violent-crime, while in Denmead 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 EastOf the 4 schools in Cowes, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Denmead, which has 2 schools, the figure is 100%.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Denmead School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cowes | Denmead |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Cowes averages 468.4 Mbps – ahead of Denmead's 409.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Cowes and 95.3% in Denmead. Gigabit availability stands at 92.2% in Cowes and 79% in Denmead.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (468 vs 409 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Denmead, scoring 71.4 on average (band C) compared to 67 (band C) in Cowes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in Cowes and £1,125 in Denmead. 54.5% of homes in Cowes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.6% in Denmead.
Denmead has more energy-efficient housing — 67.6% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,166.2 in Denmead and £27,938 in Cowes. The median age is 50.5 in Cowes and 44.7 in Denmead. Employment rates stand at 48.4% in Cowes and 57.3% in Denmead. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Cowes versus 64.7% in Denmead. Cowes has a population of 14,366 and Denmead has 6,509.
| Indicator | Cowes | Denmead |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,366 | 6,509 |
| Median Age | 50.5 | 44.7 |
| Median Household Income | £27,938 | £33,166.2 |
| Employment Rate | 48.4% | 57.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 64.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 35% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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