Town comparison
Penryn vs Porthleven
Which is better to live in? 10.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Penryn wins on house prices with a 8% gap. Porthleven has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Penryn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Penryn
£339,825
Porthleven
£367,786
Crime Rate
Penryn
101.5
Porthleven
62.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Penryn
100.0%
Porthleven
0.0%
Avg Download Speed
Penryn
307.5
Porthleven
295.6
EPC Rating
Penryn
66.2
Porthleven
66.2
Median Income
Penryn
£27,819
Porthleven
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestAt £339,825, Penryn undercuts Porthleven (£367,786) by around 8% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Penryn is a flat at £180,255, while in Porthleven it is a terraced at £276,150.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 21% pricier in Porthleven (£394,635 vs £312,457).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Penryn prices grew faster — 53% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestResidents of Porthleven experience less crime overall, with a rate of 62.2 per 1,000 versus 101.5 per 1,000 in Penryn. The most common crime category in Penryn is violent-crime, while in Porthleven 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 WestOf the 2 schools in Penryn, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Porthleven, which has 1 schools, the figure is 0%.
Penryn School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Porthleven School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Penryn | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 1 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 0% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Penryn averages 307.5 Mbps – ahead of Porthleven's 295.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 84.7% of premises in Penryn and 86.1% in Porthleven. Gigabit availability stands at 55.7% in Penryn and 53% in Porthleven.
Penryn is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (308 vs 296 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Penryn, scoring 66.2 on average (band C) compared to 66.2 (band C) in Porthleven. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Penryn and £1,418 in Porthleven. 51.5% of homes in Penryn have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in Porthleven.
Penryn 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 Penryn and £27,819 in Porthleven. The median age is 47.6 in Penryn and 47.6 in Porthleven. Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Penryn and 53.3% in Porthleven. Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Penryn versus 66.2% in Porthleven. Penryn has a population of 11,194 and Porthleven has 3,118.
| Indicator | Penryn | Porthleven |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,194 | 3,118 |
| 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
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