Town comparison
Hereford vs Ross-on-Wye
Which is better to live in? 11.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Hereford is about 10% cheaper on average. Ross On Wye has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ross On Wye edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Hereford
£325,726
Ross-on-Wye
£360,141
Crime Rate
Hereford
50.6
Ross-on-Wye
30.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Hereford
85.7%
Ross-on-Wye
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Hereford
433.2
Ross-on-Wye
380.6
EPC Rating
Hereford
67.8
Ross-on-Wye
68.6
Median Income
Hereford
£28,553
Ross-on-Wye
£30,196
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Hereford more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £325,726 versus £360,141 in Ross On Wye. The most affordable entry point in Hereford is a flat at £155,380, while in Ross On Wye it is a flat at £137,956.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 13% pricier in Hereford (£155,380 vs £137,956).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hereford prices grew faster — 42% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 30.3 offences per 1,000 people, Ross On Wye is the safer of the two – 67% lower than Hereford's 50.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Hereford is violent-crime, while in Ross On Wye 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 West MidlandsSchool quality favours Ross On Wye: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 85.7% in Hereford.
Hereford School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 17 schools (13 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ross-on-Wye School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Hereford | Ross-on-Wye |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 17 | 4 |
| Primary | 13 | 3 |
| Secondary | 4 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 85.7% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Hereford enjoy 433.2 Mbps on average, while Ross On Wye lags behind at 380.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.8% of premises in Hereford and 90.3% in Ross On Wye. Gigabit availability stands at 83.7% in Hereford and 73% in Ross On Wye.
Hereford is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (433 vs 381 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Ross On Wye is band C (score 68.6), ahead of Hereford's band C (score 67.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,427 in Hereford and £1,412 in Ross On Wye. 55.6% of homes in Hereford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.7% in Ross On Wye.
Ross On Wye has more energy-efficient housing — 57.7% reach band C or above, vs 55.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Hereford has a population of 60,081 while Ross On Wye has 10,993. Median household income is £30,196 in Ross On Wye and £28,553 in Hereford. The median age is 48.5 in Hereford and 48 in Ross On Wye. Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Hereford and 55.5% in Ross On Wye.
| Indicator | Hereford | Ross-on-Wye |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,081 | 10,993 |
| Median Age | 48.5 | 48 |
| Median Household Income | £28,553 | £30,196 |
| Employment Rate | 56.3% | 55.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.4% | 69.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.7% | 30.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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