Town comparison
Dartmouth vs Paignton
Which is better to live in? 6.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Paignton is about 80% cheaper on average. For families, Dartmouth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dartmouth
£517,774
Paignton
£287,841
Crime Rate
Dartmouth
N/A
Paignton
93.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dartmouth
100.0%
Paignton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dartmouth
285.3
Paignton
415.2
EPC Rating
Dartmouth
66.8
Paignton
67.8
Median Income
Dartmouth
£29,455
Paignton
£26,577
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Paignton is £287,841, which is 80% less than Dartmouth at £517,774. The most affordable entry point in Dartmouth is a flat at £336,638, while in Paignton it is a flat at £158,765.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 112% pricier in Dartmouth (£336,638 vs £158,765).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Paignton prices grew faster — 43% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime rate data is not available for both Dartmouth and Paignton at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South WestDartmouth has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Paignton. Dartmouth has 2 schools in total, while Paignton has 15.
Dartmouth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paignton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 15 schools (12 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dartmouth | Paignton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 15 |
| Primary | 1 | 12 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Paignton offers faster average downloads at 415.2 Mbps, compared to 285.3 Mbps in Dartmouth. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.8% of premises in Dartmouth and 93.9% in Paignton. Gigabit availability stands at 50.5% in Dartmouth and 78.7% in Paignton.
Paignton is the faster of the two by 46% on average download speed (415 vs 285 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Paignton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 67.8 (band C) versus 66.8 (band C) in Dartmouth. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,475 in Dartmouth and £1,177 in Paignton. 53.3% of homes in Dartmouth have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.2% in Paignton.
Paignton has more energy-efficient housing — 55.2% reach band C or above, vs 53.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,455 in Dartmouth and £26,577 in Paignton. The median age is 50.3 in Dartmouth and 49 in Paignton. Employment rates stand at 54.1% in Dartmouth and 50.4% in Paignton. Owner-occupancy is 70.5% in Dartmouth versus 64.1% in Paignton.
| Indicator | Dartmouth | Paignton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,260 | 67,772 |
| Median Age | 50.3 | 49 |
| Median Household Income | £29,455 | £26,577 |
| Employment Rate | 54.1% | 50.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 64.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 39.9% | 25.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Dartmouth and Paignton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Dartmouth or Paignton?
Is Dartmouth or Paignton safer?
Which has better schools, Dartmouth or Paignton?
Which has faster broadband, Dartmouth or Paignton?
Keep exploring