St Mary Bourne or Farncombe: Which Is Better Value?
St Mary Bourne averages £575,000 against £570,000 in Farncombe, a gap of £5,000 or 1%. You would need £500 more deposit and about £26 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Farncombe charges £296 more council tax at Band D.
St Mary Bourne averages £575,000 against £570,000 in Farncombe, a gap of £5,000 or 1%. You would need £500 more deposit and about £26 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Farncombe charges £296 more council tax at Band D.
Price and deposit
The headline gap is £5,000, or 1%. On a 10% deposit that is £500 more cash to find before you start. Detached homes average £475,000 against £589,000.
St Mary Bourne against Farncombe
Town guides for each: Mortgage advice in St Mary Bourne and Mortgage advice in Farncombe.
Schools and families
Farncombe holds its own on schools, with 1 graded Outstanding at their last graded Ofsted inspection (before September 2024) against 0 in St Mary Bourne. Counting last graded Ofsted inspections (before September 2024), St Mary Bourne has 2 schools and Farncombe has 2 schools graded Good or better.
A strong catchment in the cheaper town can cost more than an average street in the dearer one. Compare catchments, not averages.
Running costs and getting to work
Band D council tax is £2,309 in St Mary Bourne and £2,605 in Farncombe, a difference of £296 a year.
The honest verdict
Farncombe is cheaper to buy on these figures. St Mary Bourne carries the higher price and, on this data, not the stronger school profile.
Neither is right in the abstract. If the deposit is your constraint, the £500 difference matters more than anything else here. If catchment is the constraint, price follows the school you need.
What each town is actually like
Price is one axis. These are the things people move for, and the things they find out afterwards.
St Mary Bourne
In its favour- A beautiful, sought-after downland village
- St Peter's Tournai font & the church
- The Bourne Rivulet & the watercress heritage
- A village primary school & pubs
- Prices above the national average
- No railway station in the village itself
- A Bourne Rivulet flood-risk consideration near the water
- Larger period & country homes mean substantial lending
Best for Families ★★★★☆
A Good village primary (St Mary Bourne), a Good secondary at Testbourne (Whitchurch), a safe rural setting and the Bourne valley on the doorstep, though secondaries mean a drive.
Farncombe
In its favour- A characterful village feel with its own station
- Often more accessible than central Godalming
- The Broadway's independent shops
- A full A&E close at Guildford (~4 miles)
- River Wey flood risk in low-lying and riverside areas
- A moderate (not fast) London commute
- Detached and riverside homes command a premium
- Victorian and period homes can need extra survey and upkeep
Best for First-time buyers ★★★★☆
Some of the more accessible homes in the Godalming area, flats and Broadway terraces, with FTB SDLT relief; flood checks matter near the river.
St Mary Bourne and Farncombe, side by side
| Measure | St Mary Bourne | Farncombe |
|---|---|---|
| Average property price | £575,000 | £570,000 |
| Average detached | £475,000 | £589,000 |
| 10% deposit | £57,500 | £57,000 |
| Illustrative monthly payment | £3,025 | £2,999 |
| Band D council tax | £2,309 | £2,605 |
| Outstanding rated schools | 0 | 1 |
| Good rated schools | 2 | 1 |
Local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own figures before acting.
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Questions people ask
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