Town comparison
Ipswich vs Kirby Cross
Which is better to live in? 15.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Ipswich is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 6% lower. Kirby Cross has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Ipswich
£312,422
Kirby Cross
£333,699
Crime Rate
Ipswich
88.2
Kirby Cross
79.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ipswich
90.0%
Kirby Cross
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Ipswich
462.9
Kirby Cross
329
EPC Rating
Ipswich
70.4
Kirby Cross
70
Median Income
Ipswich
£30,219
Kirby Cross
£29,832
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandProperty in Kirby Cross commands an average of £333,699, compared with £312,422 in Ipswich – a difference of 6%. The most affordable entry point in Ipswich is a flat at £133,991, while in Kirby Cross it is a flat at £101,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Ipswich (£133,991 vs £101,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Kirby Cross prices grew faster — 33% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandKirby Cross has a crime rate of 79.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 11% lower than Ipswich at 88.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Ipswich is violent-crime, while in Kirby Cross 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 East of EnglandSchool quality data is not fully available for both Ipswich and Kirby Cross. Ipswich has 41 schools and Kirby Cross has 1 schools.
Ipswich School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 41 schools (33 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Kirby Cross School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Ipswich | Kirby Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 41 | 1 |
| Primary | 33 | 1 |
| Secondary | 8 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 90% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 462.9 Mbps in Ipswich and 329.0 Mbps in Kirby Cross. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.9% of premises in Ipswich and 98.4% in Kirby Cross. Gigabit availability stands at 89.8% in Ipswich and 59.3% in Kirby Cross.
Ipswich is the faster of the two by 41% on average download speed (463 vs 329 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ipswich, scoring 70.4 on average (band C) compared to 70 (band D) in Kirby Cross. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,255 in Ipswich and £1,206 in Kirby Cross. 61.3% of homes in Ipswich have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.4% in Kirby Cross.
Ipswich has more energy-efficient housing — 61.3% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,218.7 in Ipswich and £29,832 in Kirby Cross. The median age is 45.9 in Ipswich and 50.3 in Kirby Cross. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Ipswich and 46.7% in Kirby Cross. Owner-occupancy is 66.8% in Ipswich versus 71.5% in Kirby Cross. Ipswich has a population of 151,566 and Kirby Cross has 5,720.
| Indicator | Ipswich | Kirby Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 151,566 | 5,720 |
| Median Age | 45.9 | 50.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,218.7 | £29,832 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 46.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.8% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.6% | 19.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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