Town comparison
East Cowes vs Hedge End
Which is better to live in? 11.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, East Cowes offers lower property prices by roughly 29%. Hedge End has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hedge End edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
East Cowes
£242,362
Hedge End
£343,737
Crime Rate
East Cowes
75.9
Hedge End
54.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
East Cowes
0.0%
Hedge End
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
East Cowes
443.5
Hedge End
406.8
EPC Rating
East Cowes
67
Hedge End
73.2
Median Income
East Cowes
£27,938
Hedge End
£35,092
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find East Cowes more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £242,362 versus £343,737 in Hedge End. The most affordable entry point in East Cowes is a flat at £153,618, while in Hedge End it is a flat at £178,721.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 30% pricier in Hedge End (£463,439 vs £324,816).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, East Cowes prices grew faster — 37% vs 4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 54.7 offences per 1,000 people, Hedge End is the safer of the two – 39% lower than East Cowes's 75.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in East Cowes is violent-crime, while in Hedge End 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 EastSchool quality favours Hedge End: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 0% in East Cowes.
East Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hedge End School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | East Cowes | Hedge End |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 8 |
| Primary | 2 | 6 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 0% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in East Cowes enjoy 443.5 Mbps on average, while Hedge End lags behind at 406.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in East Cowes and 97% in Hedge End. Gigabit availability stands at 87% in East Cowes and 74.5% in Hedge End.
East Cowes is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (444 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Hedge End is band C (score 73.2), ahead of East Cowes's band C (score 67). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in East Cowes and £1,092 in Hedge End. 54.5% of homes in East Cowes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71% in Hedge End.
Hedge End has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
East Cowes has a population of 8,424 while Hedge End has 23,195. Median household income is £35,091.5 in Hedge End and £27,938 in East Cowes. The median age is 50.5 in East Cowes and 44.2 in Hedge End. Employment rates stand at 48.4% in East Cowes and 60.4% in Hedge End.
| Indicator | East Cowes | Hedge End |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,424 | 23,195 |
| Median Age | 50.5 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £27,938 | £35,091.5 |
| Employment Rate | 48.4% | 60.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 39% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are East Cowes and Hedge End?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, East Cowes or Hedge End?
Is East Cowes or Hedge End safer?
Which has better schools, East Cowes or Hedge End?
Which has faster broadband, East Cowes or Hedge End?
Keep exploring