Town comparison
Paignton vs Torquay
Which is better to live in? 2.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Torquay wins on house prices with a 9% gap. Paignton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Paignton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Paignton
£287,841
Torquay
£263,674
Crime Rate
Paignton
93.4
Torquay
93.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Paignton
100.0%
Torquay
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Paignton
415.2
Torquay
433.9
EPC Rating
Paignton
67.8
Torquay
68.2
Median Income
Paignton
£26,577
Torquay
£27,364
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestProperty in Paignton commands an average of £287,841, compared with £263,674 in Torquay – a difference of 9%. The most affordable entry point in Paignton is a flat at £158,765, while in Torquay it is a flat at £172,613.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 13% pricier in Torquay (£458,097 vs £396,684).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Paignton prices grew faster — 43% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestResidents of Paignton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 93.4 per 1,000 versus 93.4 per 1,000 in Torquay. The most common crime category in Paignton is violent-crime, while in Torquay 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 WestFamilies may prefer Paignton, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Torquay. There are 15 schools in Paignton and 16 in Torquay.
Paignton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 15 schools (12 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Torquay School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (13 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Paignton | Torquay |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 15 | 16 |
| Primary | 12 | 13 |
| Secondary | 3 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 433.9 Mbps in Torquay and 415.2 Mbps in Paignton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.9% of premises in Paignton and 96.3% in Torquay. Gigabit availability stands at 78.7% in Paignton and 80.8% in Torquay.
Torquay is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (434 vs 415 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Torquay, scoring 68.2 on average (band C) compared to 67.8 (band C) in Paignton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,177 in Paignton and £1,220 in Torquay. 55.2% of homes in Paignton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.9% in Torquay.
Torquay has more energy-efficient housing — 55.9% reach band C or above, vs 55.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,363.5 in Torquay and £26,577 in Paignton. The median age is 49 in Paignton and 49.1 in Torquay. Employment rates stand at 50.4% in Paignton and 52.6% in Torquay. Owner-occupancy is 64.1% in Paignton versus 67.7% in Torquay. Paignton has a population of 67,772 and Torquay has 52,034.
| Indicator | Paignton | Torquay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,772 | 52,034 |
| Median Age | 49 | 49.1 |
| Median Household Income | £26,577 | £27,363.5 |
| Employment Rate | 50.4% | 52.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.1% | 67.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25.3% | 29% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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