Herne Bay vs Minster (Swale)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Minster (swale) offers lower property prices by roughly 13%. 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
Minster (Swale)
£314,244
Crime Rate
Herne Bay
80.2
Minster (Swale)
86.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Herne Bay
100.0%
Minster (Swale)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Herne Bay
426.4
Minster (Swale)
370.5
EPC Rating
Herne Bay
72
Minster (Swale)
72
Median Income
Herne Bay
£29,518
Minster (Swale)
£31,675
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in Minster (swale) is £314,244, which is 13% less than Herne Bay at £355,546. The most affordable entry point in Herne Bay is a flat at £164,413, while in Minster (swale) it is a flat at £164,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 32% pricier in Herne Bay (£302,038 vs £228,367).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Minster (swale) prices grew faster — 26% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 80.2 offences per 1,000 people, Herne Bay is the safer of the two – 8% lower than Minster (swale)'s 86.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Herne Bay is violent-crime, while in Minster (swale) 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 Minster (swale). Herne Bay has 4 schools in total, while Minster (swale) has 4.
Herne Bay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Minster (Swale) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Herne Bay | Minster (Swale) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 4 |
| Primary | 4 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Herne Bay offers faster average downloads at 426.4 Mbps, compared to 370.5 Mbps in Minster (swale). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.1% of premises in Herne Bay and 93.8% in Minster (swale). Gigabit availability stands at 82.7% in Herne Bay and 66.5% in Minster (swale).
Herne Bay is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (426 vs 371 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Herne Bay are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 72 (band C) in Minster (swale). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Herne Bay and £1,048 in Minster (swale). 64% of homes in Herne Bay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Minster (swale).
Minster (swale) has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,675 in Minster (swale) and £29,518 in Herne Bay. The median age is 44.3 in Herne Bay and 42.6 in Minster (swale). Employment rates stand at 49.8% in Herne Bay and 56.7% in Minster (swale). Owner-occupancy is 64.8% in Herne Bay versus 67% in Minster (swale).
| Indicator | Herne Bay | Minster (Swale) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,873 | 16,735 |
| Median Age | 44.3 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £29,518 | £31,675 |
| Employment Rate | 49.8% | 56.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.8% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 23.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Herne Bay and Minster (swale)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Herne Bay or Minster (swale)?
Is Herne Bay or Minster (swale) safer?
Which has better schools, Herne Bay or Minster (swale)?
Which has faster broadband, Herne Bay or Minster (swale)?
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