Stow-on-the-Wold or Aldbourne: Which Is Better Value?
Stow-on-the-Wold averages £625,000 against £580,000 in Aldbourne, a gap of £45,000 or 8%. You would need £4,500 more deposit and about £237 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Aldbourne charges £11 less council tax at Band D.
Stow-on-the-Wold averages £625,000 against £580,000 in Aldbourne, a gap of £45,000 or 8%. You would need £4,500 more deposit and about £237 a month more on a repayment mortgage at an assumed 5% over 25 years. Aldbourne charges £11 less council tax at Band D.
Price and deposit
The headline gap is £45,000, or 8%. On a 10% deposit that is £4,500 more cash to find before you start. Detached homes average £1,500,000 against £600,000.
Stow-on-the-Wold against Aldbourne
Town guides for each: Mortgage advice in Stow-on-the-Wold and Mortgage advice in Aldbourne.
Schools and families
Aldbourne holds its own on schools, with 2 graded Outstanding at their last graded Ofsted inspection (before September 2024) against 0 in Stow-on-the-Wold. Counting last graded Ofsted inspections (before September 2024), Stow-on-the-Wold has 2 schools and Aldbourne 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 £2,459 in Stow-on-the-Wold and £2,448 in Aldbourne, a difference of £11 a year.
The honest verdict
Aldbourne is cheaper to buy on these figures. Stow-on-the-Wold 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 £4,500 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.
Stow-on-the-Wold
In its favour- A small, beautiful, very affluent Cotswold hill town
- The Square, antiques, galleries & historic inns
- St Edward's Church & the famous yew door
- Glorious countryside & famous villages on the doorstep
- A small, very premium market above the national average
- Limited, tightly-held supply, finding a home takes patience
- A major tourism town, busy with visitors, parking tight in season
- Significant second-home & short-let presence
Best for Downsizers ★★★★★
A compact, walkable, beautiful town with shops, pubs, galleries and healthcare close by, and attractive cottages and town houses, ideal for downsizers happy with a premium price and the drive to a station.
Aldbourne
In its favour- A beautiful, historic downland village
- A picture-postcard green, pond & Grade I church
- A famous bell-founding & Doctor Who heritage
- The North Wessex Downs on the doorstep
- Prices above the national average
- No railway station (Swindon/Bedwyn/Hungerford a drive; a car is essential)
- A small-river flood-risk consideration in the valley bottom
- Larger period & country homes mean substantial lending
Best for Families ★★★★☆
A village primary, a strong community and the North Wessex Downs on the doorstep, with secondaries in Marlborough and Swindon, check catchment.
Stow-on-the-Wold and Aldbourne, side by side
| Measure | Stow-on-the-Wold | Aldbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Average property price | £625,000 | £580,000 |
| Average detached | £1,500,000 | £600,000 |
| 10% deposit | £62,500 | £58,000 |
| Illustrative monthly payment | £3,288 | £3,052 |
| Band D council tax | £2,459 | £2,448 |
| Outstanding rated schools | 0 | 2 |
| Good rated schools | 2 | 0 |
Local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own figures before acting.
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Questions people ask
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