Town comparison
Helston vs Porthleven
Which is better to live in? 2.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Porthleven is about 0% cheaper on average. Helston has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Helston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Helston
£367,827
Porthleven
£367,786
Crime Rate
Helston
62.1
Porthleven
62.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Helston
66.7%
Porthleven
0.0%
Avg Download Speed
Helston
295.6
Porthleven
295.6
EPC Rating
Helston
66.2
Porthleven
66.2
Median Income
Helston
£27,819
Porthleven
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Porthleven is £367,786, which is 0% less than Helston at £367,827. The most affordable entry point in Helston is a flat at £166,571, while in Porthleven it is a terraced at £276,150.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 30% pricier in Porthleven (£394,635 vs £274,492).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Helston prices grew faster — 37% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Helston (62.1 per 1,000) compared to Porthleven (62.2 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Helston 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 WestHelston has 66.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 0% in Porthleven. Helston has 4 schools in total, while Porthleven has 1.
Helston School Inspection Breakdown
66.7% of 4 schools (3 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 | Helston | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 1 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 66.7% | 0% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Helston offers faster average downloads at 295.6 Mbps, compared to 295.6 Mbps in Porthleven. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.1% of premises in Helston and 86.1% in Porthleven. Gigabit availability stands at 53% in Helston and 53% in Porthleven.
Helston is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (296 vs 296 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Helston are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 66.2 (band C) versus 66.2 (band C) in Porthleven. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Helston and £1,418 in Porthleven. 51.5% of homes in Helston have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in Porthleven.
Helston 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 Helston and £27,819 in Porthleven. The median age is 47.6 in Helston and 47.6 in Porthleven. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Helston and 53.3% in Porthleven. Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Helston versus 66.2% in Porthleven.
| Indicator | Helston | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,366 | 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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