Town comparison
Dereham vs Fakenham
Which is better to live in? 11.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Dereham is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 5% lower. Fakenham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dereham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dereham
£313,814
Fakenham
£331,519
Crime Rate
Dereham
49.8
Fakenham
41.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dereham
100.0%
Fakenham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dereham
384
Fakenham
252.5
EPC Rating
Dereham
69.1
Fakenham
67
Median Income
Dereham
£28,795
Fakenham
£28,301
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Fakenham commands an average of £331,519, compared with £313,814 in Dereham – a difference of 5%. The most affordable entry point in Dereham is a flat at £115,361, while in Fakenham it is a flat at £167,725.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 31% pricier in Fakenham (£167,725 vs £115,361).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Fakenham prices grew faster — 37% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandFakenham has a crime rate of 41.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 20% lower than Dereham at 49.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dereham is violent-crime, while in Fakenham 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 East of EnglandFamilies may prefer Dereham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Fakenham. There are 9 schools in Dereham and 3 in Fakenham.
Dereham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fakenham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dereham | Fakenham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 9 | 3 |
| Primary | 7 | 2 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 384.0 Mbps in Dereham and 252.5 Mbps in Fakenham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.7% of premises in Dereham and 87.4% in Fakenham. Gigabit availability stands at 73.2% in Dereham and 43% in Fakenham.
Dereham is the faster of the two by 52% on average download speed (384 vs 253 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Dereham leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 69.1 (C), while Fakenham averages 67 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,344 in Dereham and £1,456 in Fakenham. 56.8% of homes in Dereham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.8% in Fakenham.
Dereham has more energy-efficient housing — 56.8% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,795 in Dereham and £28,301 in Fakenham. The median age is 47.4 in Dereham and 49.7 in Fakenham. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Dereham versus 67.6% in Fakenham. Employment rates stand at 55.7% in Dereham and 52% in Fakenham.
| Indicator | Dereham | Fakenham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,788 | 8,390 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 49.7 |
| Median Household Income | £28,795 | £28,301 |
| Employment Rate | 55.7% | 52% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.1% | 24.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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