Harwich vs Kesgrave
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Harwich offers lower property prices by roughly 29%. Kesgrave has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harwich edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harwich
£250,032
Kesgrave
£350,354
Crime Rate
Harwich
79.1
Kesgrave
61.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harwich
87.5%
Kesgrave
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Harwich
387
Kesgrave
411.6
EPC Rating
Harwich
70
Kesgrave
70.2
Median Income
Harwich
£29,832
Kesgrave
£29,997
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandThe average house price in Harwich is £250,032, which is 29% less than Kesgrave at £350,354. The most affordable entry point in Harwich is a flat at £115,300, while in Kesgrave it is a flat at £199,031.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 42% pricier in Kesgrave (£199,031 vs £115,300).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harwich prices grew faster — 47% vs 38%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 61 offences per 1,000 people, Kesgrave is the safer of the two – 30% lower than Harwich's 79.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Harwich is violent-crime, while in Kesgrave 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 EnglandHarwich has 87.5% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 75% in Kesgrave. Harwich has 8 schools in total, while Kesgrave has 4.
Harwich School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kesgrave School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harwich | Kesgrave |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 8 | 4 |
| Primary | 7 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 87.5% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Kesgrave offers faster average downloads at 411.6 Mbps, compared to 387.0 Mbps in Harwich. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.8% of premises in Harwich and 97.1% in Kesgrave. Gigabit availability stands at 73.5% in Harwich and 79.3% in Kesgrave.
Kesgrave is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (412 vs 387 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Kesgrave are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.2 (band C) versus 70 (band D) in Harwich. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Harwich and £1,178 in Kesgrave. 56.4% of homes in Harwich have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.2% in Kesgrave.
Kesgrave has more energy-efficient housing — 63.2% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,996.5 in Kesgrave and £29,832 in Harwich. The median age is 50.3 in Harwich and 45.4 in Kesgrave. Employment rates stand at 46.7% in Harwich and 55.7% in Kesgrave. Owner-occupancy is 71.5% in Harwich versus 62.2% in Kesgrave.
| Indicator | Harwich | Kesgrave |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,582 | 14,947 |
| Median Age | 50.3 | 45.4 |
| Median Household Income | £29,832 | £29,996.5 |
| Employment Rate | 46.7% | 55.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.5% | 62.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 19.9% | 26.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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