Frome vs Paulton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Paulton is about 26% cheaper on average. Paulton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Paulton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Frome
£383,713
Paulton
£304,316
Crime Rate
Frome
83.1
Paulton
78.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Frome
70.0%
Paulton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Frome
389.2
Paulton
373.9
EPC Rating
Frome
68.6
Paulton
68.6
Median Income
Frome
£28,887
Paulton
£29,497
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Paulton is £304,316, which is 26% less than Frome at £383,713. The most affordable entry point in Frome is a flat at £181,071, while in Paulton it is a flat at £173,411.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 34% pricier in Frome (£534,130 vs £398,167).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Frome prices grew faster — 42% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 78.6 offences per 1,000 people, Paulton is the safer of the two – 6% lower than Frome's 83.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Frome is violent-crime, while in Paulton 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 WestPaulton has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 70% in Frome. Frome has 10 schools in total, while Paulton has 2.
Frome School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 10 schools (7 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Paulton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Frome | Paulton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 2 |
| Primary | 7 | 2 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Frome offers faster average downloads at 389.2 Mbps, compared to 373.9 Mbps in Paulton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 82.6% of premises in Frome and 93.6% in Paulton. Gigabit availability stands at 75.8% in Frome and 67.6% in Paulton.
Frome is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (389 vs 374 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Frome are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 68.6 (band C) versus 68.6 (band C) in Paulton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,350 in Frome and £1,342 in Paulton. 58.3% of homes in Frome have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.4% in Paulton.
Paulton has more energy-efficient housing — 58.4% reach band C or above, vs 58.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,496.6 in Paulton and £28,887.4 in Frome. The median age is 47 in Frome and 46.5 in Paulton. Employment rates stand at 57.5% in Frome and 56.5% in Paulton. Owner-occupancy is 67.4% in Frome versus 67.1% in Paulton.
| Indicator | Frome | Paulton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,904 | 6,502 |
| Median Age | 47 | 46.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,887.4 | £29,496.6 |
| Employment Rate | 57.5% | 56.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.4% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 32.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Frome and Paulton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Frome or Paulton?
Is Frome or Paulton safer?
Which has better schools, Frome or Paulton?
Which has faster broadband, Frome or Paulton?
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