Town comparison
Newquay vs St Austell
Which is better to live in? 14.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, St Austell offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Newquay has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Newquay edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Newquay
£364,093
St Austell
£293,193
Crime Rate
Newquay
62.2
St Austell
62.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Newquay
100.0%
St Austell
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Newquay
310.4
St Austell
331.1
EPC Rating
Newquay
66.2
St Austell
66.2
Median Income
Newquay
£27,819
St Austell
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in St Austell is £293,193, which is 24% less than Newquay at £364,093. The most affordable entry point in Newquay is a flat at £241,481, while in St Austell it is a flat at £137,265.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 76% pricier in Newquay (£241,481 vs £137,265).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Newquay prices grew faster — 38% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 62.2 offences per 1,000 people, Newquay is the safer of the two – 0% lower than St Austell's 62.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Newquay 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 WestNewquay has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in St Austell. Newquay has 8 schools in total, while St Austell has 7.
Newquay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
St Austell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Newquay | St Austell |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 8 | 7 |
| Primary | 6 | 5 |
| Secondary | 2 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
St Austell offers faster average downloads at 331.1 Mbps, compared to 310.4 Mbps in Newquay. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 89.6% of premises in Newquay and 92.5% in St Austell. Gigabit availability stands at 55.7% in Newquay and 55.9% in St Austell.
St Austell is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (331 vs 310 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Newquay are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 66.2 (band C) versus 66.2 (band C) in St Austell. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Newquay and £1,418 in St Austell. 51.5% of homes in Newquay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in St Austell.
Newquay 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 Newquay and £27,819 in St Austell. The median age is 47.6 in Newquay and 47.6 in St Austell. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Newquay and 53.3% in St Austell. Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Newquay versus 66.2% in St Austell.
| Indicator | Newquay | St Austell |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,543 | 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 Newquay and St Austell?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Newquay or St Austell?
Is Newquay or St Austell safer?
Which has better schools, Newquay or St Austell?
Which has faster broadband, Newquay or St Austell?
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