Accrington vs Colne
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Accrington is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 19% lower. Colne has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Colne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Colne
£180,447
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Colne
69.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Colne
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Colne
311
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Colne
68.4
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Colne
£27,268
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Colne commands an average of £180,447, compared with £145,475 in Accrington – a difference of 19%. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Colne it is a flat at £120,650.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 30% pricier in Colne (£377,845 vs £266,089).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Colne prices grew faster — 26% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestColne has a crime rate of 69.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 35% lower than Accrington at 93.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Colne 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 Colne, where 75% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 70% in Accrington. There are 14 schools in Accrington and 10 in Colne.
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Colne School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 10 schools (7 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Colne |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 10 |
| Primary | 11 | 7 |
| Secondary | 3 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 442.6 Mbps in Accrington and 311.0 Mbps in Colne. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 92.1% in Colne. Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 56.1% in Colne.
Accrington is the faster of the two by 42% on average download speed (443 vs 311 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Accrington, scoring 69.1 on average (band C) compared to 68.4 (band C) in Colne. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,391 in Colne. 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 53.3% in Colne.
Accrington has more energy-efficient housing — 58% reach band C or above, vs 53.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,972.5 in Accrington and £27,268 in Colne. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 41.4 in Colne. Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 52.7% in Colne. Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Accrington versus 65% in Colne. Accrington has a population of 34,897 and Colne has 18,914.
| Indicator | Accrington | Colne |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 18,914 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 41.4 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £27,268 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 52.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 65% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 25.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Accrington and Colne?
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