Town comparison
Herne Bay vs Ramsgate
Which is better to live in? 12.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Ramsgate is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 34% lower. 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
Ramsgate
£265,761
Crime Rate
Herne Bay
80.2
Ramsgate
103.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Herne Bay
100.0%
Ramsgate
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Herne Bay
426.4
Ramsgate
395.6
EPC Rating
Herne Bay
72
Ramsgate
71.4
Median Income
Herne Bay
£29,518
Ramsgate
£28,101
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastAt £265,761, Ramsgate undercuts Herne Bay (£355,546) by around 34% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Herne Bay is a flat at £164,413, while in Ramsgate it is a flat at £151,803.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 19% pricier in Herne Bay (£302,038 vs £253,543).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ramsgate prices grew faster — 27% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastHerne Bay has a crime rate of 80.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 29% lower than Ramsgate at 103.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Herne Bay is violent-crime, while in Ramsgate 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 EastOf the 4 schools in Herne Bay, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Ramsgate, which has 12 schools, the figure is 87.5%.
Herne Bay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ramsgate School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Herne Bay | Ramsgate |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 12 |
| Primary | 4 | 10 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Herne Bay averages 426.4 Mbps – ahead of Ramsgate's 395.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.1% of premises in Herne Bay and 99.2% in Ramsgate. Gigabit availability stands at 82.7% in Herne Bay and 75.1% in Ramsgate.
Herne Bay is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (426 vs 396 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Herne Bay, scoring 72 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Ramsgate. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,097 in Herne Bay and £1,116 in Ramsgate. 64% of homes in Herne Bay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.6% in Ramsgate.
Ramsgate 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 Ramsgate. The median age is 44.3 in Herne Bay and 46.1 in Ramsgate. Employment rates stand at 49.8% in Herne Bay and 51.3% in Ramsgate. Owner-occupancy is 64.8% in Herne Bay versus 61.4% in Ramsgate. Herne Bay has a population of 24,873 and Ramsgate has 42,031.
| Indicator | Herne Bay | Ramsgate |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,873 | 42,031 |
| 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
How far apart are Herne Bay and Ramsgate?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Herne Bay or Ramsgate?
Is Herne Bay or Ramsgate safer?
Which has better schools, Herne Bay or Ramsgate?
Which has faster broadband, Herne Bay or Ramsgate?
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