Accrington vs Barnoldswick
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Accrington is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 21% lower. Barnoldswick has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnoldswick edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Barnoldswick
£185,134
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Barnoldswick
27.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Barnoldswick
80.0%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Barnoldswick
447.3
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Barnoldswick
70
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Barnoldswick
£29,567
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £145,475, Accrington undercuts Barnoldswick (£185,134) by around 21% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Barnoldswick it is a flat at £116,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 31% pricier in Barnoldswick (£148,535 vs £102,513).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnoldswick prices grew faster — 30% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestBarnoldswick has a crime rate of 27.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 234% lower than Accrington at 93.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Barnoldswick 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 North WestOf the 14 schools in Accrington, 70% are in the top two inspection bands. In Barnoldswick, which has 5 schools, the figure is 80%.
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Barnoldswick School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Barnoldswick |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 5 |
| Primary | 11 | 4 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 80% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Barnoldswick averages 447.3 Mbps – ahead of Accrington's 442.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 96% in Barnoldswick. Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 87.8% in Barnoldswick.
Barnoldswick is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (447 vs 443 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Barnoldswick, scoring 70 on average (band C) compared to 69.1 (band C) in Accrington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,427 in Barnoldswick. 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.8% in Barnoldswick.
Barnoldswick has more energy-efficient housing — 58.8% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,972.5 in Accrington and £29,566.6 in Barnoldswick. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 47.3 in Barnoldswick. Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 56.4% in Barnoldswick. Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Accrington versus 67.9% in Barnoldswick. Accrington has a population of 34,897 and Barnoldswick has 10,591.
| Indicator | Accrington | Barnoldswick |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 10,591 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £29,566.6 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 56.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 33.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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