Dereham vs Watton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Watton wins on house prices with a 29% gap. Dereham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dereham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dereham
£313,814
Watton
£242,330
Crime Rate
Dereham
49.8
Watton
49.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dereham
100.0%
Watton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dereham
384
Watton
274.1
EPC Rating
Dereham
69.1
Watton
69.1
Median Income
Dereham
£28,795
Watton
£28,795
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Dereham commands an average of £313,814, compared with £242,330 in Watton – a difference of 29%. The most affordable entry point in Dereham is a flat at £115,361, while in Watton it is a flat at £91,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 39% pricier in Dereham (£411,434 vs £295,716).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dereham prices grew faster — 36% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandResidents of Dereham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 49.8 per 1,000 versus 49.9 per 1,000 in Watton. The most common crime category in Dereham is violent-crime, while in Watton 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 Watton. There are 9 schools in Dereham and 3 in Watton.
Dereham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Watton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dereham | Watton |
|---|---|---|
| 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 274.1 Mbps in Watton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.7% of premises in Dereham and 87.3% in Watton. Gigabit availability stands at 73.2% in Dereham and 48.2% in Watton.
Dereham is the faster of the two by 40% on average download speed (384 vs 274 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Dereham, scoring 69.1 on average (band C) compared to 69.1 (band C) in Watton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,344 in Dereham and £1,344 in Watton. 56.8% of homes in Dereham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.8% in Watton.
Dereham has more energy-efficient housing — 56.8% reach band C or above, vs 56.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,795 in Dereham and £28,795 in Watton. The median age is 47.4 in Dereham and 47.4 in Watton. Employment rates stand at 55.7% in Dereham and 55.7% in Watton. Owner-occupancy is 67% in Dereham versus 67% in Watton. Dereham has a population of 20,788 and Watton has 11,549.
| Indicator | Dereham | Watton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,788 | 11,549 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 47.4 |
| Median Household Income | £28,795 | £28,795 |
| Employment Rate | 55.7% | 55.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.1% | 23.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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