Town comparison
Faringdon vs Harwell
Which is better to live in? 13.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Harwell wins on house prices with a 4% gap. Faringdon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Faringdon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Faringdon
£431,923
Harwell
£415,434
Crime Rate
Faringdon
46.4
Harwell
46.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Faringdon
100.0%
Harwell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Faringdon
383.8
Harwell
403.2
EPC Rating
Faringdon
73.1
Harwell
72
Median Income
Faringdon
£38,244
Harwell
£38,125
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £415,434, Harwell undercuts Faringdon (£431,923) by around 4% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Faringdon is a flat at £175,003, while in Harwell it is a flat at £224,272.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 22% pricier in Harwell (£224,272 vs £175,003).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harwell prices grew faster — 2% vs -3%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastResidents of Faringdon experience less crime overall, with a rate of 46.4 per 1,000 versus 46.6 per 1,000 in Harwell. The most common crime category in Faringdon is violent-crime, while in Harwell 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 EastOf the 3 schools in Faringdon, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Harwell, which has 1 schools, the figure is 100%.
Faringdon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Faringdon | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Harwell averages 403.2 Mbps – ahead of Faringdon's 383.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93% of premises in Faringdon and 96% in Harwell. Gigabit availability stands at 73.4% in Faringdon and 75.6% in Harwell.
Harwell is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (403 vs 384 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Faringdon leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 73.1 (C), while Harwell averages 72 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,188 in Faringdon and £1,266 in Harwell. 68% of homes in Faringdon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.1% in Harwell.
Faringdon has more energy-efficient housing — 68% reach band C or above, vs 66.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £38,244 in Faringdon and £38,125 in Harwell. The median age is 44 in Faringdon and 44.4 in Harwell. Owner-occupancy is 68.2% in Faringdon versus 69.2% in Harwell. Employment rates stand at 63% in Faringdon and 63% in Harwell.
| Indicator | Faringdon | Harwell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,625 | 3,067 |
| Median Age | 44 | 44.4 |
| Median Household Income | £38,244 | £38,125 |
| Employment Rate | 63% | 63% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.2% | 69.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 44% | 43.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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