Accrington vs Great Harwood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 2.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Accrington is about 10% cheaper on average. Accrington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Great Harwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Great Harwood
£162,389
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Great Harwood
189.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Great Harwood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Great Harwood
442
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Great Harwood
70.3
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Great Harwood
£29,448
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Accrington more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £145,475 versus £162,389 in Great Harwood. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Great Harwood it is a flat at £67,800.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 39% pricier in Accrington (£94,333 vs £67,800).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Great Harwood prices grew faster — 26% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 93.3 offences per 1,000 people, Accrington is the safer of the two – 103% lower than Great Harwood's 189.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Great Harwood 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 WestSchool quality favours Great Harwood: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 70% in Accrington.
Accrington School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 14 schools (11 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Great Harwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (5 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Great Harwood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 5 |
| Primary | 11 | 5 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Accrington enjoy 442.6 Mbps on average, while Great Harwood lags behind at 442.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 95.3% in Great Harwood. Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 86% in Great Harwood.
Accrington is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (443 vs 442 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Great Harwood is band C (score 70.3), ahead of Accrington's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,268 in Great Harwood. 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.9% in Great Harwood.
Great Harwood has more energy-efficient housing — 59.9% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Accrington has a population of 34,897 while Great Harwood has 11,022. Median household income is £29,972.5 in Accrington and £29,448.3 in Great Harwood. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 42.7 in Great Harwood. Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 55.5% in Great Harwood.
| Indicator | Accrington | Great Harwood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 11,022 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.7 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £29,448.3 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 55.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 30.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Accrington and Great Harwood?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Accrington or Great Harwood?
Is Accrington or Great Harwood safer?
Which has better schools, Accrington or Great Harwood?
Which has faster broadband, Accrington or Great Harwood?
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