Town comparison
Dover vs Folkestone
Which is better to live in? 6.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Dover offers lower property prices by roughly 18%. Folkestone has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Folkestone edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Dover
£272,408
Folkestone
£332,015
Crime Rate
Dover
78.1
Folkestone
75.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Dover
92.3%
Folkestone
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Dover
376.1
Folkestone
368.6
EPC Rating
Dover
70
Folkestone
70.1
Median Income
Dover
£33,352
Folkestone
£32,877
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Dover is £272,408, which is 18% less than Folkestone at £332,015. The most affordable entry point in Dover is a flat at £154,910, while in Folkestone it is a flat at £266,614.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 42% pricier in Folkestone (£266,614 vs £154,910).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Folkestone prices grew faster — 52% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Folkestone (75 per 1,000) compared to Dover (78.1 per 1,000), a 4% difference. The most common crime category in Dover is violent-crime, while in Folkestone 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 EastFolkestone has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 92.3% in Dover. Dover has 17 schools in total, while Folkestone has 19.
Dover School Inspection Breakdown
92.3% of 17 schools (13 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Folkestone School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 19 schools (15 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Dover | Folkestone |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 17 | 19 |
| Primary | 13 | 15 |
| Secondary | 4 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 92.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dover offers faster average downloads at 376.1 Mbps, compared to 368.6 Mbps in Folkestone. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Dover and 98.1% in Folkestone. Gigabit availability stands at 71% in Dover and 68.8% in Folkestone.
Dover is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (376 vs 369 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Folkestone are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.1 (band C) versus 70 (band C) in Dover. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,212 in Dover and £1,184 in Folkestone. 61.7% of homes in Dover have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.6% in Folkestone.
Folkestone has more energy-efficient housing — 63.6% reach band C or above, vs 61.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,352 in Dover and £32,877 in Folkestone. The median age is 46.5 in Dover and 47.5 in Folkestone. Employment rates stand at 53% in Dover and 52.2% in Folkestone. Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Dover versus 65.8% in Folkestone.
| Indicator | Dover | Folkestone |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,349 | 51,987 |
| Median Age | 46.5 | 47.5 |
| Median Household Income | £33,352 | £32,877 |
| Employment Rate | 53% | 52.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.2% | 65.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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