Town comparison
Dereham vs Norwich
Which is better to live in? 15.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Dereham is about 1% cheaper on average. Dereham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dereham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dereham
£313,814
Norwich
£315,961
Crime Rate
Dereham
49.8
Norwich
109.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dereham
100.0%
Norwich
87.8%
Avg Download Speed
Dereham
384
Norwich
459.6
EPC Rating
Dereham
69.1
Norwich
70.5
Median Income
Dereham
£28,795
Norwich
£29,868
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Dereham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £313,814 versus £315,961 in Norwich. The most affordable entry point in Dereham is a flat at £115,361, while in Norwich it is a flat at £167,071.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 31% pricier in Norwich (£167,071 vs £115,361).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dereham prices grew faster — 36% vs 23%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 49.8 offences per 1,000 people, Dereham is the safer of the two – 119% lower than Norwich's 109.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Dereham is violent-crime, while in Norwich 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 EnglandSchool quality favours Dereham: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 87.8% in Norwich.
Dereham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Norwich School Inspection Breakdown
87.8% of 65 schools (53 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dereham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 9 | 65 |
| Primary | 7 | 53 |
| Secondary | 2 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Norwich enjoy 459.6 Mbps on average, while Dereham lags behind at 384.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.7% of premises in Dereham and 98.6% in Norwich. Gigabit availability stands at 73.2% in Dereham and 89.8% in Norwich.
Norwich is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (460 vs 384 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Norwich is band C (score 70.5), ahead of Dereham's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,344 in Dereham and £1,190 in Norwich. 56.8% of homes in Dereham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.3% in Norwich.
Norwich has more energy-efficient housing — 62.3% reach band C or above, vs 56.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Dereham has a population of 20,788 while Norwich has 200,492. Median household income is £29,867.5 in Norwich and £28,795 in Dereham. The median age is 47.4 in Dereham and 44.1 in Norwich. Employment rates stand at 55.7% in Dereham and 55.5% in Norwich.
| Indicator | Dereham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,788 | 200,492 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 44.1 |
| Median Household Income | £28,795 | £29,867.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55.7% | 55.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 59.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.1% | 30.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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