Fareham vs Sandown
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Sandown offers lower property prices by roughly 49%. Fareham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Sandown edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Fareham
£406,936
Sandown
£273,925
Crime Rate
Fareham
51.4
Sandown
75.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Fareham
81.8%
Sandown
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Fareham
458.6
Sandown
408.7
EPC Rating
Fareham
71.5
Sandown
67
Median Income
Fareham
£35,497
Sandown
£27,938
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Sandown more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £273,925 versus £406,936 in Fareham. The most affordable entry point in Fareham is a flat at £172,479, while in Sandown it is a flat at £164,849.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 43% pricier in Fareham (£514,082 vs £358,393).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Sandown prices grew faster — 49% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Fareham (51.4 per 1,000) compared to Sandown (75.9 per 1,000), a 48% difference. The most common crime category in Fareham is violent-crime, while in Sandown 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 Sandown: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 81.8% in Fareham.
Fareham School Inspection Breakdown
81.8% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sandown School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Fareham | Sandown |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 2 |
| Primary | 11 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 81.8% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Fareham enjoy 458.6 Mbps on average, while Sandown lags behind at 408.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.3% of premises in Fareham and 94.7% in Sandown. Gigabit availability stands at 89.1% in Fareham and 79% in Sandown.
Fareham is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (459 vs 409 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Fareham is band C (score 71.5), ahead of Sandown's band C (score 67). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,075 in Fareham and £1,290 in Sandown. 68.1% of homes in Fareham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.5% in Sandown.
Fareham has more energy-efficient housing — 68.1% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Fareham has a population of 42,246 while Sandown has 11,652. Median household income is £35,497 in Fareham and £27,938 in Sandown. The median age is 48 in Fareham and 50.5 in Sandown. Employment rates stand at 58.2% in Fareham and 48.4% in Sandown.
| Indicator | Fareham | Sandown |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 42,246 | 11,652 |
| Median Age | 48 | 50.5 |
| Median Household Income | £35,497 | £27,938 |
| Employment Rate | 58.2% | 48.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 78.5% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.4% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Fareham and Sandown?
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