Town comparison
Cowes vs Hedge End
Which is better to live in? 11.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Cowes is about 3% cheaper on average. Hedge End has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cowes edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cowes
£335,058
Hedge End
£343,737
Crime Rate
Cowes
75.7
Hedge End
54.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cowes
100.0%
Hedge End
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cowes
468.4
Hedge End
406.8
EPC Rating
Cowes
67
Hedge End
73.2
Median Income
Cowes
£27,938
Hedge End
£35,092
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Cowes more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £335,058 versus £343,737 in Hedge End. The most affordable entry point in Cowes is a flat at £253,949, while in Hedge End it is a flat at £178,721.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 42% pricier in Cowes (£253,949 vs £178,721).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowes prices grew faster — 36% vs 4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 54.7 offences per 1,000 people, Hedge End is the safer of the two – 38% lower than Cowes's 75.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Cowes 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 EastSchool quality favours Cowes: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Hedge End.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) 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 | Cowes | Hedge End |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 8 |
| Primary | 3 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Cowes enjoy 468.4 Mbps on average, while Hedge End lags behind at 406.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Cowes and 97% in Hedge End. Gigabit availability stands at 92.2% in Cowes and 74.5% in Hedge End.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (468 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Hedge End is band C (score 73.2), ahead of Cowes's band C (score 67). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in Cowes and £1,092 in Hedge End. 54.5% of homes in Cowes 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 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Cowes has a population of 14,366 while Hedge End has 23,195. Median household income is £35,091.5 in Hedge End and £27,938 in Cowes. The median age is 50.5 in Cowes and 44.2 in Hedge End. Employment rates stand at 48.4% in Cowes and 60.4% in Hedge End.
| Indicator | Cowes | Hedge End |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,366 | 23,195 |
| Median Age | 50.5 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £27,938 | £35,091.5 |
| Employment Rate | 48.4% | 60.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 39% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Cowes and Hedge End?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Cowes or Hedge End?
Is Cowes or Hedge End safer?
Which has better schools, Cowes or Hedge End?
Which has faster broadband, Cowes or Hedge End?
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