Town comparison
Herne Bay vs Margate
Which is better to live in? 10.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Margate offers lower property prices by roughly 21%. Herne Bay has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Herne Bay edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Herne Bay
£355,546
Margate
£294,819
Crime Rate
Herne Bay
80.2
Margate
103.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Herne Bay
100.0%
Margate
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Herne Bay
426.4
Margate
387.3
EPC Rating
Herne Bay
72
Margate
71.4
Median Income
Herne Bay
£29,518
Margate
£28,101
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Margate is £294,819, which is 21% less than Herne Bay at £355,546. The most affordable entry point in Herne Bay is a flat at £164,413, while in Margate it is a flat at £169,852.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 3% pricier in Margate (£336,727 vs £325,950).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Margate prices grew faster — 46% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 80.2 offences per 1,000 people, Herne Bay is the safer of the two – 29% lower than Margate's 103.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Herne Bay is violent-crime, while in Margate 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 EastHerne Bay has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Margate. Herne Bay has 4 schools in total, while Margate has 14.
Herne Bay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Margate School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Herne Bay | Margate |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 14 |
| Primary | 4 | 11 |
| Secondary | 0 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Herne Bay offers faster average downloads at 426.4 Mbps, compared to 387.3 Mbps in Margate. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.1% of premises in Herne Bay and 97.8% in Margate. Gigabit availability stands at 82.7% in Herne Bay and 73.2% in Margate.
Herne Bay is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (426 vs 387 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Herne Bay are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Margate. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Herne Bay and £1,116 in Margate. 64% of homes in Herne Bay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.6% in Margate.
Margate has more energy-efficient housing — 64.6% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,518 in Herne Bay and £28,101 in Margate. The median age is 44.3 in Herne Bay and 46.1 in Margate. Employment rates stand at 49.8% in Herne Bay and 51.3% in Margate. Owner-occupancy is 64.8% in Herne Bay versus 61.4% in Margate.
| Indicator | Herne Bay | Margate |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,873 | 63,315 |
| Median Age | 44.3 | 46.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,518 | £28,101 |
| Employment Rate | 49.8% | 51.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.8% | 61.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 26.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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