Town comparison
Cowes vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? 10.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Cowes offers lower property prices by roughly 1%. Cowes has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cowes edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cowes
£335,058
Portsmouth
£339,811
Crime Rate
Cowes
75.7
Portsmouth
112.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cowes
100.0%
Portsmouth
95.9%
Avg Download Speed
Cowes
468.4
Portsmouth
418.4
EPC Rating
Cowes
67
Portsmouth
70.1
Median Income
Cowes
£27,938
Portsmouth
£30,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Cowes is £335,058, which is 1% less than Portsmouth at £339,811. The most affordable entry point in Cowes is a flat at £253,949, while in Portsmouth it is a flat at £177,807.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 43% pricier in Cowes (£253,949 vs £177,807).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cowes prices grew faster — 36% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Cowes (75.7 per 1,000) compared to Portsmouth (112.9 per 1,000), a 49% difference. The most common crime category in Cowes is violent-crime, while in Portsmouth 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 EastCowes has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 95.9% in Portsmouth. Cowes has 4 schools in total, while Portsmouth has 62.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Portsmouth School Inspection Breakdown
95.9% of 62 schools (50 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cowes | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 62 |
| Primary | 3 | 50 |
| Secondary | 1 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 95.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cowes offers faster average downloads at 468.4 Mbps, compared to 418.4 Mbps in Portsmouth. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Cowes and 91.7% in Portsmouth. Gigabit availability stands at 92.2% in Cowes and 80% in Portsmouth.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (468 vs 418 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Portsmouth are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.1 (band C) versus 67 (band C) in Cowes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in Cowes and £950 in Portsmouth. 54.5% of homes in Cowes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68% in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth has more energy-efficient housing — 68% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,661 in Portsmouth and £27,938 in Cowes. The median age is 50.5 in Cowes and 39.8 in Portsmouth. Employment rates stand at 48.4% in Cowes and 57.2% in Portsmouth. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Cowes versus 52.3% in Portsmouth.
| Indicator | Cowes | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,366 | 223,324 |
| Median Age | 50.5 | 39.8 |
| Median Household Income | £27,938 | £30,661 |
| Employment Rate | 48.4% | 57.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 52.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 30% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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