Town comparison
Ely vs March
Which is better to live in? 12.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
March is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 65% lower. Ely has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ely edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ely
£394,089
March
£238,846
Crime Rate
Ely
45.3
March
75.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ely
100.0%
March
50.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ely
400.6
March
383.8
EPC Rating
Ely
71.2
March
72.8
Median Income
Ely
£31,962
March
£32,563
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Ely commands an average of £394,089, compared with £238,846 in March – a difference of 65%. The most affordable entry point in Ely is a flat at £220,262, while in March it is a flat at £116,769.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 89% pricier in Ely (£220,262 vs £116,769).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, March prices grew faster — 32% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandEly has a crime rate of 45.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 67% lower than March at 75.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Ely is violent-crime, while in March 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 Ely, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 50% in March. There are 5 schools in Ely and 5 in March.
Ely School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (5 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
March School Inspection Breakdown
50% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ely | March |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 5 |
| Primary | 5 | 4 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 50% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 400.6 Mbps in Ely and 383.8 Mbps in March. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 92.2% of premises in Ely and 90.8% in March. Gigabit availability stands at 76.3% in Ely and 73.7% in March.
Ely is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (401 vs 384 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours March, scoring 72.8 on average (band C) compared to 71.2 (band C) in Ely. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,224 in Ely and £1,140 in March. 64.2% of homes in Ely have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.9% in March.
March has more energy-efficient housing — 68.9% reach band C or above, vs 64.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,563 in March and £31,962 in Ely. The median age is 44.5 in Ely and 45 in March. Employment rates stand at 61.5% in Ely and 58.5% in March. Owner-occupancy is 64.1% in Ely versus 67.9% in March. Ely has a population of 19,185 and March has 21,042.
| Indicator | Ely | March |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,185 | 21,042 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 45 |
| Median Household Income | £31,962 | £32,563 |
| Employment Rate | 61.5% | 58.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.1% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.8% | 26.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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