Cowes vs Fareham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.2 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Cowes wins on house prices with a 18% gap. Fareham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cowes edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cowes
£335,058
Fareham
£406,936
Crime Rate
Cowes
75.7
Fareham
51.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cowes
100.0%
Fareham
81.8%
Avg Download Speed
Cowes
468.4
Fareham
458.6
EPC Rating
Cowes
67
Fareham
71.5
Median Income
Cowes
£27,938
Fareham
£35,497
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £335,058, Cowes undercuts Fareham (£406,936) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Cowes is a flat at £253,949, while in Fareham it is a flat at £172,479.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 47% pricier in Cowes (£253,949 vs £172,479).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowes prices grew faster — 36% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Fareham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 51.4 per 1,000 versus 75.7 per 1,000 in Cowes. The most common crime category in Cowes is violent-crime, while in Fareham 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 Fareham, which has 14 schools, the figure is 81.8%.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fareham School Inspection Breakdown
81.8% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cowes | Fareham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 14 |
| Primary | 3 | 11 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 81.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Cowes averages 468.4 Mbps – ahead of Fareham's 458.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Cowes and 98.3% in Fareham. Gigabit availability stands at 92.2% in Cowes and 89.1% in Fareham.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (468 vs 459 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Fareham leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.5 (C), while Cowes averages 67 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in Cowes and £1,075 in Fareham. 54.5% of homes in Cowes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.1% in Fareham.
Fareham has more energy-efficient housing — 68.1% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,497 in Fareham and £27,938 in Cowes. The median age is 50.5 in Cowes and 48 in Fareham. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Cowes versus 78.5% in Fareham. Employment rates stand at 48.4% in Cowes and 58.2% in Fareham.
| Indicator | Cowes | Fareham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,366 | 42,246 |
| Median Age | 50.5 | 48 |
| Median Household Income | £27,938 | £35,497 |
| Employment Rate | 48.4% | 58.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 78.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 33.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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