Ealing vs Virginia Water
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.2 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Ealing wins on house prices with a 35% gap. Virginia Water has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Virginia Water edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ealing
£825,109
Virginia Water
£1,277,777
Crime Rate
Ealing
81.1
Virginia Water
70.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ealing
97.2%
Virginia Water
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ealing
431.9
Virginia Water
424.5
EPC Rating
Ealing
72.6
Virginia Water
72
Median Income
Ealing
£34,811
Virginia Water
£39,067
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in LondonProperty in Virginia Water commands an average of £1,277,777, compared with £825,109 in Ealing – a difference of 35%. The most affordable entry point in Ealing is a flat at £501,687, while in Virginia Water it is a flat at £352,308.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 70% pricier in Ealing (£1,171,898 vs £689,385).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Virginia Water prices grew faster — 38% vs 5%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in LondonResidents of Virginia Water experience less crime overall, with a rate of 70.8 per 1,000 versus 81.1 per 1,000 in Ealing. The most common crime category in Ealing is violent-crime, while in Virginia Water 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 LondonFamilies may prefer Virginia Water, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 97.2% in Ealing. There are 82 schools in Ealing and 2 in Virginia Water.
Ealing School Inspection Breakdown
97.2% of 82 schools (65 primary, 17 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Virginia Water School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ealing | Virginia Water |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 82 | 2 |
| Primary | 65 | 2 |
| Secondary | 17 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 97.2% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 431.9 Mbps in Ealing and 424.5 Mbps in Virginia Water. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.9% of premises in Ealing and 95.3% in Virginia Water. Gigabit availability stands at 84.2% in Ealing and 82.7% in Virginia Water.
Ealing is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (432 vs 425 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ealing, scoring 72.6 on average (band C) compared to 72 (band C) in Virginia Water. Estimated annual energy costs average £909 in Ealing and £1,118 in Virginia Water. 69.9% of homes in Ealing have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.1% in Virginia Water.
Ealing has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 67.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £39,067 in Virginia Water and £34,810.5 in Ealing. The median age is 38.4 in Ealing and 42.3 in Virginia Water. Employment rates stand at 60% in Ealing and 58.4% in Virginia Water. Owner-occupancy is 46% in Ealing versus 66.4% in Virginia Water. Ealing has a population of 366,952 and Virginia Water has 5,185.
| Indicator | Ealing | Virginia Water |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 366,952 | 5,185 |
| Median Age | 38.4 | 42.3 |
| Median Household Income | £34,810.5 | £39,067 |
| Employment Rate | 60% | 58.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 46% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 43% | 35.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Ealing and Virginia Water?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ealing or Virginia Water?
Is Ealing or Virginia Water safer?
Which has better schools, Ealing or Virginia Water?
Which has faster broadband, Ealing or Virginia Water?
Keep exploring