Faversham vs Herne Bay
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Herne Bay is about 8% cheaper on average. Herne Bay has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Herne Bay edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Faversham
£382,930
Herne Bay
£355,546
Crime Rate
Faversham
86.9
Herne Bay
80.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Faversham
83.3%
Herne Bay
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Faversham
324.4
Herne Bay
426.4
EPC Rating
Faversham
71.5
Herne Bay
72
Median Income
Faversham
£32,162
Herne Bay
£29,518
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Herne Bay is £355,546, which is 8% less than Faversham at £382,930. The most affordable entry point in Faversham is a flat at £197,551, while in Herne Bay it is a flat at £164,413.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 25% pricier in Faversham (£554,917 vs £442,491).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Faversham prices grew faster — 27% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 80.2 offences per 1,000 people, Herne Bay is the safer of the two – 8% lower than Faversham's 86.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Faversham is violent-crime, while in Herne Bay 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 EastHerne Bay has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 83.3% in Faversham. Faversham has 7 schools in total, while Herne Bay has 4.
Faversham School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Herne Bay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Faversham | Herne Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 4 |
| Primary | 5 | 4 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Herne Bay offers faster average downloads at 426.4 Mbps, compared to 324.4 Mbps in Faversham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 83.8% of premises in Faversham and 97.1% in Herne Bay. Gigabit availability stands at 60.4% in Faversham and 82.7% in Herne Bay.
Herne Bay is the faster of the two by 31% on average download speed (426 vs 324 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Herne Bay are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Faversham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,105 in Faversham and £1,097 in Herne Bay. 65.9% of homes in Faversham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64% in Herne Bay.
Faversham has more energy-efficient housing — 65.9% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,161.7 in Faversham and £29,518 in Herne Bay. The median age is 43 in Faversham and 44.3 in Herne Bay. Employment rates stand at 59% in Faversham and 49.8% in Herne Bay. Owner-occupancy is 66.9% in Faversham versus 64.8% in Herne Bay.
| Indicator | Faversham | Herne Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,690 | 24,873 |
| Median Age | 43 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £32,161.7 | £29,518 |
| Employment Rate | 59% | 49.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.9% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 33.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Faversham and Herne Bay?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Faversham or Herne Bay?
Is Faversham or Herne Bay safer?
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