Town comparison
Penzance vs St Ives (Cornwall)
Which is better to live in? 6.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Penzance offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. St Ives (cornwall) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Penzance edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Penzance
£378,736
St Ives (Cornwall)
£378,736
Crime Rate
Penzance
62.2
St Ives (Cornwall)
62.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Penzance
80.0%
St Ives (Cornwall)
50.0%
Avg Download Speed
Penzance
370.8
St Ives (Cornwall)
131.1
EPC Rating
Penzance
66.2
St Ives (Cornwall)
66.2
Median Income
Penzance
£27,819
St Ives (Cornwall)
£27,819
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Penzance is £378,736, which is 0% less than St Ives (cornwall) at £378,736. The most affordable entry point in Penzance is a flat at £170,154, while in St Ives (cornwall) it is a flat at £170,154.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 0% pricier in Penzance (£479,265 vs £479,265).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Penzance prices grew faster — 61% vs 61%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestWith 62.1 offences per 1,000 people, St Ives (cornwall) is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Penzance's 62.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Penzance is violent-crime, while in St Ives (cornwall) 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 WestPenzance has 80% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 50% in St Ives (cornwall). Penzance has 7 schools in total, while St Ives (cornwall) has 2.
Penzance School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
St Ives (Cornwall) School Inspection Breakdown
50% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Penzance | St Ives (Cornwall) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 2 |
| Primary | 5 | 2 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 80% | 50% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Penzance offers faster average downloads at 370.8 Mbps, compared to 131.1 Mbps in St Ives (cornwall). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 86.2% of premises in Penzance and 93.1% in St Ives (cornwall). Gigabit availability stands at 70.8% in Penzance and 13% in St Ives (cornwall).
Penzance is the faster of the two by 183% on average download speed (371 vs 131 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Penzance are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 66.2 (band C) versus 66.2 (band C) in St Ives (cornwall). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,418 in Penzance and £1,418 in St Ives (cornwall). 51.5% of homes in Penzance have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.5% in St Ives (cornwall).
Penzance 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 Penzance and £27,819 in St Ives (cornwall). The median age is 47.6 in Penzance and 47.6 in St Ives (cornwall). Employment rates stand at 53.3% in Penzance and 53.3% in St Ives (cornwall). Owner-occupancy is 66.2% in Penzance versus 66.2% in St Ives (cornwall).
| Indicator | Penzance | St Ives (Cornwall) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,957 | 5,413 |
| 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 Penzance and St Ives (cornwall)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Penzance or St Ives (cornwall)?
Is Penzance or St Ives (cornwall) safer?
Which has better schools, Penzance or St Ives (cornwall)?
Which has faster broadband, Penzance or St Ives (cornwall)?
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