Ipswich vs Stowmarket
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Stowmarket is about 1% cheaper on average. For families, Stowmarket edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ipswich
£312,422
Stowmarket
£307,984
Crime Rate
Ipswich
88.2
Stowmarket
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ipswich
90.0%
Stowmarket
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ipswich
462.9
Stowmarket
343.2
EPC Rating
Ipswich
70.4
Stowmarket
70.8
Median Income
Ipswich
£30,219
Stowmarket
£30,013
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East of EnglandBuyers will find Stowmarket more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £307,984 versus £312,422 in Ipswich. The most affordable entry point in Ipswich is a flat at £133,991, while in Stowmarket it is a flat at £139,127.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 13% pricier in Ipswich (£460,405 vs £407,509).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ipswich prices grew faster — 21% vs 18%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East of EnglandCrime rate data is not available for both Ipswich and Stowmarket at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in East of EnglandSchool quality favours Stowmarket: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 90% in Ipswich.
Ipswich School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 41 schools (33 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Stowmarket School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ipswich | Stowmarket |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 41 | 8 |
| Primary | 33 | 7 |
| Secondary | 8 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 90% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Ipswich enjoy 462.9 Mbps on average, while Stowmarket lags behind at 343.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.9% of premises in Ipswich and 92.7% in Stowmarket. Gigabit availability stands at 89.8% in Ipswich and 63.6% in Stowmarket.
Ipswich is the faster of the two by 35% on average download speed (463 vs 343 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Stowmarket is band C (score 70.8), ahead of Ipswich's band C (score 70.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,255 in Ipswich and £1,354 in Stowmarket. 61.3% of homes in Ipswich have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.9% in Stowmarket.
Ipswich has more energy-efficient housing — 61.3% reach band C or above, vs 60.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Ipswich has a population of 151,566 while Stowmarket has 20,833. Median household income is £30,218.7 in Ipswich and £30,013 in Stowmarket. The median age is 45.9 in Ipswich and 47.9 in Stowmarket. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Ipswich and 58% in Stowmarket.
| Indicator | Ipswich | Stowmarket |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 151,566 | 20,833 |
| Median Age | 45.9 | 47.9 |
| Median Household Income | £30,218.7 | £30,013 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 58% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.8% | 73.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.6% | 30% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Ipswich and Stowmarket?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ipswich or Stowmarket?
Is Ipswich or Stowmarket safer?
Which has better schools, Ipswich or Stowmarket?
Which has faster broadband, Ipswich or Stowmarket?
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