Accrington vs Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Accrington offers lower property prices by roughly 36%. Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
£228,340
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
84.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
97.7%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
398.1
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
71.8
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
£30,947
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Accrington is £145,475, which is 36% less than Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) at £228,340. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) it is a flat at £101,069.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 23% pricier in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) (£346,938 vs £266,089).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) prices grew faster — 30% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 84.2 offences per 1,000 people, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is the safer of the two – 11% lower than Accrington's 93.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) 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 WestBlackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has 97.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 70% in Accrington. Accrington has 14 schools in total, while Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has 52.
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) School Inspection Breakdown
97.7% of 52 schools (43 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 52 |
| Primary | 11 | 43 |
| Secondary | 3 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 97.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Accrington offers faster average downloads at 442.6 Mbps, compared to 398.1 Mbps in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 95.5% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 76.3% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen).
Accrington is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (443 vs 398 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 69.1 (band C) in Accrington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,178 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.9% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen).
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.9% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,947.2 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and £29,972.5 in Accrington. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 44 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 57.9% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Accrington versus 71% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen).
| Indicator | Accrington | Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 124,958 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £30,947.2 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 57.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 71% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 33.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Accrington and Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen)?
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Is Accrington or Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) safer?
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