Accrington vs Burnley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.6 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Accrington wins on house prices with a 7% gap. Accrington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Burnley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Burnley
£157,066
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Burnley
103.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Burnley
82.6%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Burnley
426.9
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Burnley
70.6
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Burnley
£29,740
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Burnley commands an average of £157,066, compared with £145,475 in Accrington – a difference of 7%. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Burnley it is a terraced at £97,493.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 17% pricier in Burnley (£318,999 vs £266,089).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Burnley prices grew faster — 30% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Accrington experience less crime overall, with a rate of 93.3 per 1,000 versus 103.3 per 1,000 in Burnley. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Burnley 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 Burnley, where 82.6% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 70% in Accrington. There are 14 schools in Accrington and 27 in Burnley.
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Burnley School Inspection Breakdown
82.6% of 27 schools (23 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Burnley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 27 |
| Primary | 11 | 23 |
| Secondary | 3 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 82.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 442.6 Mbps in Accrington and 426.9 Mbps in Burnley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 94.3% in Burnley. Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 83% in Burnley.
Accrington is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (443 vs 427 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Burnley, scoring 70.6 on average (band C) compared to 69.1 (band C) in Accrington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,120 in Burnley. 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.1% in Burnley.
Burnley has more energy-efficient housing — 64.1% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,972.5 in Accrington and £29,740 in Burnley. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 41.5 in Burnley. Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 53.2% in Burnley. Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Accrington versus 59.8% in Burnley. Accrington has a population of 34,897 and Burnley has 78,266.
| Indicator | Accrington | Burnley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 78,266 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 41.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £29,740 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 53.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 24.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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