Town comparison
Hayle vs Penzance
Which is better to live in? 7.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Hayle is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 16% lower. Penzance has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hayle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Hayle
£316,888
Penzance
£378,736
Crime Rate
Hayle
62.3
Penzance
62.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Hayle
100.0%
Penzance
80.0%
Avg Download Speed
Hayle
291
Penzance
370.8
EPC Rating
Hayle
66.2
Penzance
66.2
Median Income
Hayle
£27,819
Penzance
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £316,888, Hayle undercuts Penzance (£378,736) by around 16% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Hayle is a flat at £157,321, while in Penzance it is a flat at £170,154.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 12% pricier in Penzance (£479,265 vs £420,954).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Penzance prices grew faster — 61% vs 44%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestPenzance has a crime rate of 62.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Hayle at 62.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Hayle is violent-crime, while in Penzance 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 WestOf the 3 schools in Hayle, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Penzance, which has 7 schools, the figure is 80%.
Hayle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Penzance School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Hayle | Penzance |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 7 |
| Primary | 2 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 80% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Penzance averages 370.8 Mbps – ahead of Hayle's 291.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.9% of premises in Hayle and 86.2% in Penzance. Gigabit availability stands at 51.8% in Hayle and 70.8% in Penzance.
Penzance is the faster of the two by 27% on average download speed (371 vs 291 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Hayle, scoring 66.2 on average (band C) compared to 66.2 (band C) in Penzance. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Hayle and £1,418 in Penzance. 51.5% of homes in Hayle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in Penzance.
Hayle has more energy-efficient housing — 51.5% reach band C or above, vs 51.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,819 in Hayle and £27,819 in Penzance. The median age is 47.6 in Hayle and 47.6 in Penzance. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Hayle and 53.3% in Penzance. Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Hayle versus 66.2% in Penzance. Hayle has a population of 9,040 and Penzance has 14,957.
| Indicator | Hayle | Penzance |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,040 | 14,957 |
| Median Age | 47.6 | 47.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,819 | £27,819 |
| Employment Rate | 53.3% | 53.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.2% | 66.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.6% | 30.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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