Town Pop. 932

Living in Bow: Liveability Score 42/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Bow scores 42/100 overall, across 8 scored categories. Broadband falls furthest short: 19/100 where the typical UK town reaches 60/100. Bow places 2nd of 8 in the EX17 postcode district.

It scores 6 points above the EX17 postcode district as a whole, which averages 36/100. That sits 8 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the middle half of the towns and villages we score. Safety (95) sits at 80/100 or above. Wider context for the surrounding area: EX17 postcode district.

42
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Bow scores 42 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bow.
Or compare:
EX17 1AA EX17 2AA EX17 3AA EX17 4AA EX17 5AA EX17 6AA EX17 9AY EX17

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
95
42.9 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 18 crimes
↓ 42% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 7 crimes
↓ 51% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 5 crimes
↓ 21% below national average
Drugs 3 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Other theft 3 crimes
↓ 48% below national average
other 4 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Easterbrook Lane 6 crimes
  2. 2 Mill Lane 4 crimes
  3. 3 Sports/Recreation Area 4 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
59
Air Quality NO₂ 2.501 · PM2.5 4.907 · PM10 9.126 µg/m³
81
Green Space 7
Parks None
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Adequate 4

Services

Schools
—
1 school in area
1Ungraded
  • Bow Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Healthcare
25
A&E departmentsRoyal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford)14.3 mi
North Devon District Hospital22.4 mi
Torbay Hospital24.5 mi
Hospital waitsRoyal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust5.5 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.7%
A&E seen within 4 hrs70.6%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Outstanding'
GP capacity1,541 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
19
Full fibre (FTTP)59.9%
available across Mid Devon
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
39.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
39.1%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
96.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 48 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
62
Employment rate60.1%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed60.1%Unemployed2.4%Retired25%Student2.8%Other inactive9.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial35.7%Skilled & technical40.4%Routine & elementary23.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.6%Level 3 (A levels)18.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)32.8%Apprenticeship6.2%Other (incl. vocational)2.3%
Home ownership74.3%
Among the most-deprived 39% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
22
Council tax Mid Devon · 2026-27
A £1,771
B £2,066
C £2,361
D £2,656
E £3,246
F £3,836
G £4,427
H £5,312
Energy South West England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water South West Water
Average bill regional £600/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
6
Morchard Road 2.8 mi
Copplestone 3 mi
Lapford 4 mi
J31 M5 15.3 mi
J31 M5 15.6 mi
J29 M5 16.1 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
5
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Some 1
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £220,500 10
5-year monthly trend
All
£269k £297k £326k £355k 2022 2023 2024 2025

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Zeal Monachorum 32 1.5 mi away ⇄
Copplestone 33 3.1 mi away ⇄
North Tawton 34 3.7 mi away ⇄
Lapford 37 4.2 mi away ⇄
Morchard Bishop 32 4.7 mi away ⇄
Cheriton Bishop 35 6.0 mi away ⇄
Sandford (Mid Devon) 39 6.7 mi away ⇄
South Zeal 34 6.8 mi away ⇄
Chawleigh 38 6.8 mi away ⇄
Crediton 43 7.0 mi away ⇄
Winkleigh 29 7.4 mi away ⇄
Tedburn St Mary 35 7.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Bow a nice place to live?

Bow has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bow is 42/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Bow?

Bow is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 95/100. There were 40 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are house prices like in Bow?

The current median house price in Bow is £220,500, around 23% below the England and Wales average.

Bow in context

See the best places to live in Devon, ranked

Postcode districts in Bow

EX17 36 ⇄

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