Accrington vs Bolton (Bolton)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.9 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Accrington wins on house prices with a 44% gap. Accrington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bolton (bolton) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Bolton (Bolton)
£261,398
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Bolton (Bolton)
98.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Bolton (Bolton)
96.5%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Bolton (Bolton)
437.3
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Bolton (Bolton)
71.4
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Bolton (Bolton)
£27,821
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Bolton (bolton) commands an average of £261,398, compared with £145,475 in Accrington – a difference of 44%. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Bolton (bolton) it is a flat at £133,932.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 36% pricier in Bolton (bolton) (£412,754 vs £266,089).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bolton (bolton) prices grew faster — 36% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Accrington experience less crime overall, with a rate of 93.3 per 1,000 versus 98.4 per 1,000 in Bolton (bolton). The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Bolton (bolton) 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 WestFamilies may prefer Bolton (bolton), where 96.5% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 70% in Accrington. There are 14 schools in Accrington and 72 in Bolton (bolton).
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bolton (Bolton) School Inspection Breakdown
96.5% of 72 schools (60 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Bolton (Bolton) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 72 |
| Primary | 11 | 60 |
| Secondary | 3 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 96.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 442.6 Mbps in Accrington and 437.3 Mbps in Bolton (bolton). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 96.1% in Bolton (bolton). Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 83.2% in Bolton (bolton).
Accrington is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (443 vs 437 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bolton (bolton), scoring 71.4 on average (band C) compared to 69.1 (band C) in Accrington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,126 in Bolton (bolton). 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.2% in Bolton (bolton).
Bolton (bolton) has more energy-efficient housing — 66.2% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,972.5 in Accrington and £27,821 in Bolton (bolton). The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 40.8 in Bolton (bolton). Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 54% in Bolton (bolton). Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Accrington versus 61.5% in Bolton (bolton). Accrington has a population of 34,897 and Bolton (bolton) has 184,618.
| Indicator | Accrington | Bolton (Bolton) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 184,618 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 40.8 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £27,821 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 61.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Accrington and Bolton (bolton)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Accrington or Bolton (bolton)?
Is Accrington or Bolton (bolton) safer?
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