Accrington vs Chorley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Accrington is about 49% cheaper on average. Chorley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Chorley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Chorley
£286,099
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Chorley
56.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Chorley
94.1%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Chorley
441.5
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Chorley
72
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Chorley
£32,033
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Accrington is £145,475, which is 49% less than Chorley at £286,099. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Chorley it is a flat at £115,085.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 39% pricier in Chorley (£167,325 vs £102,513).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chorley prices grew faster — 52% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Chorley (56.8 per 1,000) compared to Accrington (93.3 per 1,000), a 64% difference. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Chorley 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 WestChorley has 94.1% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 70% in Accrington. Accrington has 14 schools in total, while Chorley has 18.
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Chorley School Inspection Breakdown
94.1% of 18 schools (13 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Chorley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 18 |
| Primary | 11 | 13 |
| Secondary | 3 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 94.1% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Accrington offers faster average downloads at 442.6 Mbps, compared to 441.5 Mbps in Chorley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 95.2% in Chorley. Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 84.7% in Chorley.
Accrington is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (443 vs 442 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Chorley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 69.1 (band C) in Accrington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,144 in Chorley. 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.2% in Chorley.
Chorley has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,033.3 in Chorley and £29,972.5 in Accrington. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 44.8 in Chorley. Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 57.9% in Chorley. Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Accrington versus 72.9% in Chorley.
| Indicator | Accrington | Chorley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 39,539 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 44.8 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £32,033.3 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 57.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 72.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 31.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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