Harwich vs Woodbridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Harwich is about 44% cheaper on average. Woodbridge has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Woodbridge edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harwich
£250,032
Woodbridge
£446,104
Crime Rate
Harwich
79.1
Woodbridge
67.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harwich
87.5%
Woodbridge
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Harwich
387
Woodbridge
227.6
EPC Rating
Harwich
70
Woodbridge
69.2
Median Income
Harwich
£29,832
Woodbridge
£29,350
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Harwich more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £250,032 versus £446,104 in Woodbridge. The most affordable entry point in Harwich is a flat at £115,300, while in Woodbridge it is a flat at £188,489.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 41% pricier in Woodbridge (£580,260 vs £341,587).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harwich prices grew faster — 47% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandWith 67.5 offences per 1,000 people, Woodbridge is the safer of the two – 17% lower than Harwich's 79.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Harwich is violent-crime, while in Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 87.5% in Harwich.
Harwich School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Woodbridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harwich | Woodbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 8 | 4 |
| Primary | 7 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 87.5% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Harwich enjoy 387.0 Mbps on average, while Woodbridge lags behind at 227.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.8% of premises in Harwich and 90.1% in Woodbridge. Gigabit availability stands at 73.5% in Harwich and 36.6% in Woodbridge.
Harwich is the faster of the two by 70% on average download speed (387 vs 228 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Harwich is band D (score 70), ahead of Woodbridge's band C (score 69.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Harwich and £1,314 in Woodbridge. 56.4% of homes in Harwich have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.6% in Woodbridge.
Woodbridge has more energy-efficient housing — 60.6% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Harwich has a population of 19,582 while Woodbridge has 10,527. Median household income is £29,832 in Harwich and £29,350 in Woodbridge. The median age is 50.3 in Harwich and 49.6 in Woodbridge. Employment rates stand at 46.7% in Harwich and 51.5% in Woodbridge.
| Indicator | Harwich | Woodbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,582 | 10,527 |
| Median Age | 50.3 | 49.6 |
| Median Household Income | £29,832 | £29,350 |
| Employment Rate | 46.7% | 51.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.5% | 68.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 19.9% | 27.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Harwich and Woodbridge?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Harwich or Woodbridge?
Is Harwich or Woodbridge safer?
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