Town comparison
Hastings vs Lower Willingdon
Which is better to live in? 14.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Hastings offers lower property prices by roughly 10%. Lower Willingdon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lower Willingdon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Hastings
£332,823
Lower Willingdon
£371,037
Crime Rate
Hastings
107.8
Lower Willingdon
41.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Hastings
82.4%
Lower Willingdon
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Hastings
371.3
Lower Willingdon
306.7
EPC Rating
Hastings
69.8
Lower Willingdon
70
Median Income
Hastings
£28,707
Lower Willingdon
£30,704
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Hastings is £332,823, which is 10% less than Lower Willingdon at £371,037. The most affordable entry point in Hastings is a flat at £150,131, while in Lower Willingdon it is a flat at £153,069.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 12% pricier in Lower Willingdon (£549,067 vs £484,425).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hastings prices grew faster — 38% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Lower Willingdon (41.3 per 1,000) compared to Hastings (107.8 per 1,000), a 161% difference. The most common crime category in Hastings is violent-crime, while in Lower Willingdon 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 EastLower Willingdon has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 82.4% in Hastings. Hastings has 20 schools in total, while Lower Willingdon has 2.
Hastings School Inspection Breakdown
82.4% of 20 schools (18 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lower Willingdon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Hastings | Lower Willingdon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 20 | 2 |
| Primary | 18 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 82.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Hastings offers faster average downloads at 371.3 Mbps, compared to 306.7 Mbps in Lower Willingdon. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.2% of premises in Hastings and 97.4% in Lower Willingdon. Gigabit availability stands at 69.3% in Hastings and 54.3% in Lower Willingdon.
Hastings is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (371 vs 307 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Lower Willingdon are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70 (band C) versus 69.8 (band C) in Hastings. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,212 in Hastings and £1,204 in Lower Willingdon. 60.6% of homes in Hastings have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.8% in Lower Willingdon.
Lower Willingdon has more energy-efficient housing — 60.8% reach band C or above, vs 60.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,703.5 in Lower Willingdon and £28,706.5 in Hastings. The median age is 48.6 in Hastings and 48.2 in Lower Willingdon. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Hastings and 53.8% in Lower Willingdon. Owner-occupancy is 64.7% in Hastings versus 68.3% in Lower Willingdon.
| Indicator | Hastings | Lower Willingdon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 91,804 | 6,126 |
| Median Age | 48.6 | 48.2 |
| Median Household Income | £28,706.5 | £30,703.5 |
| Employment Rate | 51.2% | 53.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.7% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.2% | 31.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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