Felixstowe vs Harwich
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Harwich offers lower property prices by roughly 33%. Felixstowe has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harwich edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Felixstowe
£332,094
Harwich
£250,032
Crime Rate
Felixstowe
61.1
Harwich
79.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Felixstowe
85.7%
Harwich
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Felixstowe
394.6
Harwich
387
EPC Rating
Felixstowe
69.2
Harwich
70
Median Income
Felixstowe
£29,350
Harwich
£29,832
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Harwich more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £250,032 versus £332,094 in Felixstowe. The most affordable entry point in Felixstowe is a flat at £221,020, while in Harwich it is a flat at £115,300.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 92% pricier in Felixstowe (£221,020 vs £115,300).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harwich prices grew faster — 47% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 61.1 offences per 1,000 people, Felixstowe is the safer of the two – 29% lower than Harwich's 79.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Felixstowe is violent-crime, while in Harwich 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 EnglandSchool quality favours Harwich: 87.5% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 85.7% in Felixstowe.
Felixstowe School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harwich School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Felixstowe | Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 8 |
| Primary | 6 | 7 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 85.7% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Felixstowe enjoy 394.6 Mbps on average, while Harwich lags behind at 387.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.6% of premises in Felixstowe and 96.8% in Harwich. Gigabit availability stands at 75.3% in Felixstowe and 73.5% in Harwich.
Felixstowe is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (395 vs 387 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Harwich is band D (score 70), ahead of Felixstowe's band C (score 69.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,314 in Felixstowe and £1,206 in Harwich. 60.6% of homes in Felixstowe have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.4% in Harwich.
Felixstowe has more energy-efficient housing — 60.6% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Felixstowe has a population of 24,218 while Harwich has 19,582. Median household income is £29,832 in Harwich and £29,350 in Felixstowe. The median age is 49.6 in Felixstowe and 50.3 in Harwich. Employment rates stand at 51.5% in Felixstowe and 46.7% in Harwich.
| Indicator | Felixstowe | Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,218 | 19,582 |
| Median Age | 49.6 | 50.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,350 | £29,832 |
| Employment Rate | 51.5% | 46.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.9% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.6% | 19.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Felixstowe and Harwich?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Felixstowe or Harwich?
Is Felixstowe or Harwich safer?
Which has better schools, Felixstowe or Harwich?
Which has faster broadband, Felixstowe or Harwich?
Keep exploring