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Property investment stats for Cowes, South East

A complete guide to property investment in Cowes.

Last updated: 3 November 2025

Investment summary

Cowes offers a blend of affordability and steady long-term growth, making it a practical choice for property investors who value a measured approach. The area’s median price per square foot of £305 per sq ft and a price-to-income ratio of 5.6 suggest that buyers are not overstretching themselves, which bodes well for market stability. With a rent-to-income ratio of 25.6%, tenants are unlikely to be under excessive financial pressure, supporting reliable rental demand.

The local market is active, with annual sales of 192 and homes spending a median of 98 days on the market, indicating reasonable liquidity. Investors should note the median discount of £5,000 (the typical achieved discount), which hints at some negotiation room. Recent capital growth has been mixed, but the three-year figure of 8.6% shows there is still upward momentum over the medium term.

Image of Cowes, South East

Key investment stats for Cowes

Median price per sq ft

£305 / sq ft

Average rental yield

4.7%

Capital growth (1y)

-2.6%

Sales in past year

192

* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).

Live property stats in Cowes

Live prices in Cowes, South East

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£372,500

25% of properties below...

£250,000

75% of properties below...

£543,750

Most expensive property

£1,997,500

Live listings

258

Median days on market

98

Should you invest in Cowes?

Opportunities

  • Investors can benefit from strong rental yields of 4.7%, particularly in the top-performing postcode district, which also achieves 4.7%.
  • The median asking rent for a 3-bedroom house is £1,200 and for a 2-bedroom flat is £1,062, suggesting healthy returns for a range of property types.
  • With a median discount of £5,000 (the typical achieved discount), buyers may be able to secure properties below asking price, improving initial yields.

Risks

  • The 1-year capital growth of -2.6% has changed in a way that may concern short-term investors, highlighting some volatility.
  • The area has a high proportion of older residents (in the 79th percentile for those aged 60+), which may limit future rental demand growth from younger demographics.
  • Properties take a median of 98 days to sell, so investors should plan for longer holding periods if quick exits are needed.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Cowes is likely to remain attractive to investors who favour stable yields and a steady, if unspectacular, growth profile. The annualised three-year growth rate of 2.8% indicates that, despite some recent ups and downs, the area has delivered consistent returns over the medium term.

Rental demand appears resilient, supported by a sizable private rented sector (in the 71st percentile nationally) and reasonable affordability metrics. The older population profile may mean less tenant churn, but also slower growth in rental demand from young professionals and families. Overall, investors can expect Cowes to offer reliability rather than rapid gains, with the potential for modest capital appreciation and dependable rental income.

Live properties in Cowes

Investment properties in Cowes, South East

5 bedroom semi-detached house for sale
41% below median price

£300,000

5 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

Bellevue Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight...

Properties needing refurbishment in Cowes, South East
Needs Refurb
4 bedroom terraced house for sale
On market for 173 days

£375,000

4 bedroom terraced house for sale

Pallance Road, COWES, PO31

Slow to sell properties in Cowes, South East
Slow to Sell
5 bedroom detached house for sale
Reduced by 13%

£995,000 - Guide Price

5 bedroom detached house for sale

Gurnard, Isle of Wight

Big price drop properties in Cowes, South East
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom detached house for sale
1,654 sq ft

£500,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom detached house for sale

Leeway House, Mill Hill Road, Cowes

Properties with planning granted in Cowes, South East
Planning Granted
2 bedroom bungalow for sale
49% below median price

£64,950

2 bedroom bungalow for sale

Gurnard Pines, Cockleton Lane, Cowe...

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Cowes, South East
Low Price per Sq Ft

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Balanced market

Buyers have some negotiation leverage, but not much.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £5,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £15,500 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £48,000 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 2.4%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 4.6%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 7.0%

Best places to invest in Cowes

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1PO314.7%2.7%£307 / sq ft

Data sources

GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:

  • HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.

  • Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.

  • GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.

Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.