Town comparison
Hayle vs Porthleven
Which is better to live in? 8.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Hayle is about 14% cheaper on average. Porthleven has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hayle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Hayle
£316,888
Porthleven
£367,786
Crime Rate
Hayle
62.3
Porthleven
62.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Hayle
100.0%
Porthleven
0.0%
Avg Download Speed
Hayle
291
Porthleven
295.6
EPC Rating
Hayle
66.2
Porthleven
66.2
Median Income
Hayle
£27,819
Porthleven
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestBuyers will find Hayle more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £316,888 versus £367,786 in Porthleven. The most affordable entry point in Hayle is a flat at £157,321, while in Porthleven it is a terraced at £276,150.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 23% pricier in Porthleven (£394,635 vs £302,566).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hayle prices grew faster — 44% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 62.2 offences per 1,000 people, Porthleven is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Hayle's 62.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Hayle is violent-crime, while in Porthleven 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 WestSchool quality favours Hayle: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 0% in Porthleven.
Hayle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Porthleven School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Hayle | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 0% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Porthleven enjoy 295.6 Mbps on average, while Hayle lags behind at 291.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.9% of premises in Hayle and 86.1% in Porthleven. Gigabit availability stands at 51.8% in Hayle and 53% in Porthleven.
Porthleven is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (296 vs 291 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Hayle is band C (score 66.2), ahead of Porthleven's band C (score 66.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Hayle and £1,418 in Porthleven. 51.5% of homes in Hayle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in Porthleven.
Hayle has more energy-efficient housing — 51.5% reach band C or above, vs 51.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Hayle has a population of 9,040 while Porthleven has 3,118. Median household income is £27,819 in Hayle and £27,819 in Porthleven. The median age is 47.6 in Hayle and 47.6 in Porthleven. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Hayle and 53.3% in Porthleven.
| Indicator | Hayle | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,040 | 3,118 |
| 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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