Fakenham vs Swaffham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Swaffham offers lower property prices by roughly 26%. Fakenham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Fakenham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Fakenham
£331,519
Swaffham
£262,072
Crime Rate
Fakenham
41.6
Swaffham
49.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Fakenham
100.0%
Swaffham
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Fakenham
252.5
Swaffham
211.9
EPC Rating
Fakenham
67
Swaffham
69.1
Median Income
Fakenham
£28,301
Swaffham
£28,795
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Swaffham is £262,072, which is 26% less than Fakenham at £331,519. The most affordable entry point in Fakenham is a flat at £167,725, while in Swaffham it is a flat at £107,700.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 56% pricier in Fakenham (£167,725 vs £107,700).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Fakenham prices grew faster — 37% vs 31%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime is lower in Fakenham (41.6 per 1,000) compared to Swaffham (49.7 per 1,000), a 19% difference. The most common crime category in Fakenham is violent-crime, while in Swaffham 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 EnglandFakenham has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 75% in Swaffham. Fakenham has 3 schools in total, while Swaffham has 4.
Fakenham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Swaffham School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Fakenham | Swaffham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 4 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Fakenham offers faster average downloads at 252.5 Mbps, compared to 211.9 Mbps in Swaffham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.4% of premises in Fakenham and 92.8% in Swaffham. Gigabit availability stands at 43% in Fakenham and 32.5% in Swaffham.
Fakenham is the faster of the two by 19% on average download speed (253 vs 212 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Swaffham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.1 (band C) versus 67 (band C) in Fakenham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,456 in Fakenham and £1,344 in Swaffham. 50.8% of homes in Fakenham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.8% in Swaffham.
Swaffham has more energy-efficient housing — 56.8% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,795 in Swaffham and £28,301 in Fakenham. The median age is 49.7 in Fakenham and 47.4 in Swaffham. Employment rates stand at 52% in Fakenham and 55.7% in Swaffham. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Fakenham versus 67% in Swaffham.
| Indicator | Fakenham | Swaffham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,390 | 8,434 |
| Median Age | 49.7 | 47.4 |
| Median Household Income | £28,301 | £28,795 |
| Employment Rate | 52% | 55.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 24.2% | 23.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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