Town comparison
Looe vs St Austell
Which is better to live in? 14.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
St Austell is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 6% lower. Looe has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Looe
£311,504
St Austell
£293,193
Crime Rate
Looe
62.3
St Austell
62.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Looe
N/A
St Austell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Looe
207
St Austell
331.1
EPC Rating
Looe
66.2
St Austell
66.2
Median Income
Looe
£27,819
St Austell
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Looe commands an average of £311,504, compared with £293,193 in St Austell – a difference of 6%. The most affordable entry point in Looe is a flat at £203,550, while in St Austell it is a flat at £137,265.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 48% pricier in Looe (£203,550 vs £137,265).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, St Austell prices grew faster — 37% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestLooe has a crime rate of 62.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than St Austell at 62.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Looe is violent-crime, while in St Austell 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 WestSchool quality data is not fully available for both Looe and St Austell. Looe has 2 schools and St Austell has 7 schools.
Looe School Inspection Breakdown
St Austell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Looe | St Austell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 7 |
| Primary | 1 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 331.1 Mbps in St Austell and 207.0 Mbps in Looe. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.8% of premises in Looe and 92.5% in St Austell. Gigabit availability stands at 31.3% in Looe and 55.9% in St Austell.
St Austell is the faster of the two by 60% on average download speed (331 vs 207 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Looe, scoring 66.2 on average (band C) compared to 66.2 (band C) in St Austell. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Looe and £1,418 in St Austell. 51.5% of homes in Looe have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in St Austell.
Looe has more energy-efficient housing — 51.5% reach band C or above, vs 51.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,819 in Looe and £27,819 in St Austell. The median age is 47.6 in Looe and 47.6 in St Austell. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Looe and 53.3% in St Austell. Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Looe versus 66.2% in St Austell. Looe has a population of 5,314 and St Austell has 24,361.
| Indicator | Looe | St Austell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,314 | 24,361 |
| Median Age | 47.6 | 47.6 |
| Median Household Income | £27,819 | £27,819 |
| Employment Rate | 53.3% | 53.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.2% | 66.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.6% | 30.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Looe and St Austell?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Looe or St Austell?
Is Looe or St Austell safer?
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