Town comparison
Maidenhead vs Reading
Which is better to live in? 12.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Reading is about 34% cheaper on average. Maidenhead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Reading edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Maidenhead
£632,300
Reading
£471,265
Crime Rate
Maidenhead
58.2
Reading
95.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Maidenhead
81.2%
Reading
95.7%
Avg Download Speed
Maidenhead
398.4
Reading
455.2
EPC Rating
Maidenhead
71.3
Reading
71.4
Median Income
Maidenhead
£35,553
Reading
£36,478
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Reading more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £471,265 versus £632,300 in Maidenhead. The most affordable entry point in Maidenhead is a flat at £315,018, while in Reading it is a flat at £236,379.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 40% pricier in Maidenhead (£494,460 vs £351,951).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Reading prices grew faster — 20% vs 8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Maidenhead (58.2 per 1,000) compared to Reading (95.7 per 1,000), a 64% difference. The most common crime category in Maidenhead is violent-crime, while in Reading 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 EastSchool quality favours Reading: 95.7% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 81.2% in Maidenhead.
Maidenhead School Inspection Breakdown
81.2% of 22 schools (17 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Reading School Inspection Breakdown
95.7% of 61 schools (48 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Maidenhead | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 22 | 61 |
| Primary | 17 | 48 |
| Secondary | 5 | 13 |
| % Top two bands | 81.2% | 95.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Reading enjoy 455.2 Mbps on average, while Maidenhead lags behind at 398.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.5% of premises in Maidenhead and 97.3% in Reading. Gigabit availability stands at 72.9% in Maidenhead and 88.6% in Reading.
Reading is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (455 vs 398 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Reading is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Maidenhead's band C (score 71.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,143 in Maidenhead and £1,099 in Reading. 69.3% of homes in Maidenhead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.4% in Reading.
Maidenhead has more energy-efficient housing — 69.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Maidenhead has a population of 67,391 while Reading has 203,097. Median household income is £36,478 in Reading and £35,552.7 in Maidenhead. The median age is 40.9 in Maidenhead and 40.1 in Reading. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Maidenhead and 63.2% in Reading.
| Indicator | Maidenhead | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,391 | 203,097 |
| Median Age | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Median Household Income | £35,552.7 | £36,478 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 63.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.6% | 63.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 43.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Maidenhead and Reading?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Maidenhead or Reading?
Is Maidenhead or Reading safer?
Which has better schools, Maidenhead or Reading?
Which has faster broadband, Maidenhead or Reading?
Keep exploring