Accrington vs Oswaldtwistle
Which is better to live in? Distance: 1.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Accrington offers lower property prices by roughly 3%. Accrington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Oswaldtwistle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Accrington
£145,475
Oswaldtwistle
£149,624
Crime Rate
Accrington
93.3
Oswaldtwistle
156.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Accrington
70.0%
Oswaldtwistle
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Accrington
442.6
Oswaldtwistle
442.6
EPC Rating
Accrington
69.1
Oswaldtwistle
69.1
Median Income
Accrington
£29,973
Oswaldtwistle
£29,973
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Accrington more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £145,475 versus £149,624 in Oswaldtwistle. The most affordable entry point in Accrington is a flat at £94,333, while in Oswaldtwistle it is a flat at £85,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 18% pricier in Oswaldtwistle (£124,513 vs £102,513).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Oswaldtwistle prices grew faster — 32% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 93.3 offences per 1,000 people, Accrington is the safer of the two – 67% lower than Oswaldtwistle's 156.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Accrington is violent-crime, while in Oswaldtwistle 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 Oswaldtwistle: 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.
Oswaldtwistle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Accrington | Oswaldtwistle |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 14 | 7 |
| Primary | 11 | 6 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 70% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Accrington enjoy 442.6 Mbps on average, while Oswaldtwistle lags behind at 442.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.7% of premises in Accrington and 96.7% in Oswaldtwistle. Gigabit availability stands at 85.4% in Accrington and 85.4% in Oswaldtwistle.
Accrington is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (443 vs 443 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Accrington is band C (score 69.1), ahead of Oswaldtwistle's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,326 in Accrington and £1,326 in Oswaldtwistle. 58% of homes in Accrington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58% in Oswaldtwistle.
Accrington has more energy-efficient housing — 58% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Accrington has a population of 34,897 while Oswaldtwistle has 10,810. Median household income is £29,972.5 in Accrington and £29,972.5 in Oswaldtwistle. The median age is 42.5 in Accrington and 42.5 in Oswaldtwistle. Employment rates stand at 56% in Accrington and 56% in Oswaldtwistle.
| Indicator | Accrington | Oswaldtwistle |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,897 | 10,810 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,972.5 | £29,972.5 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 65.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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