Town comparison
Southampton vs Winchester
Which is better to live in? 10.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Southampton is about 48% cheaper on average. Winchester has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Winchester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Southampton
£337,696
Winchester
£652,692
Crime Rate
Southampton
120.3
Winchester
55.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Southampton
88.0%
Winchester
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Southampton
417.8
Winchester
322.6
EPC Rating
Southampton
70
Winchester
72.6
Median Income
Southampton
£29,874
Winchester
£37,054
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastBuyers will find Southampton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £337,696 versus £652,692 in Winchester. The most affordable entry point in Southampton is a flat at £174,283, while in Winchester it is a flat at £340,604.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 49% pricier in Winchester (£552,694 vs £281,573).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Winchester prices grew faster — 22% vs 2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastWith 55.6 offences per 1,000 people, Winchester is the safer of the two – 116% lower than Southampton's 120.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Southampton is violent-crime, while in Winchester 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 Winchester: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 88% in Southampton.
Southampton School Inspection Breakdown
88% of 66 schools (53 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Winchester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 13 schools (10 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Southampton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 66 | 13 |
| Primary | 53 | 10 |
| Secondary | 13 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 88% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Southampton enjoy 417.8 Mbps on average, while Winchester lags behind at 322.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 88.5% of premises in Southampton and 95.9% in Winchester. Gigabit availability stands at 80.1% in Southampton and 58.1% in Winchester.
Southampton is the faster of the two by 30% on average download speed (418 vs 323 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Winchester is band C (score 72.6), ahead of Southampton's band C (score 70). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,003 in Southampton and £1,201 in Winchester. 64% of homes in Southampton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.2% in Winchester.
Winchester has more energy-efficient housing — 69.2% reach band C or above, vs 64% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Southampton has a population of 249,633 while Winchester has 47,965. Median household income is £37,054 in Winchester and £29,874 in Southampton. The median age is 38.7 in Southampton and 44.7 in Winchester. Employment rates stand at 57.9% in Southampton and 57.8% in Winchester.
| Indicator | Southampton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 249,633 | 47,965 |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 44.7 |
| Median Household Income | £29,874 | £37,054 |
| Employment Rate | 57.9% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 47.7% | 65.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.6% | 44.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Southampton and Winchester?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Southampton or Winchester?
Is Southampton or Winchester safer?
Which has better schools, Southampton or Winchester?
Which has faster broadband, Southampton or Winchester?
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