Alfreton vs Dronfield
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Alfreton is about 26% cheaper on average. Dronfield has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alfreton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alfreton
£240,964
Dronfield
£326,962
Crime Rate
Alfreton
66.3
Dronfield
52.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alfreton
100.0%
Dronfield
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alfreton
407.9
Dronfield
400.1
EPC Rating
Alfreton
70.3
Dronfield
69.3
Median Income
Alfreton
£28,974
Dronfield
£30,877
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Alfreton is £240,964, which is 26% less than Dronfield at £326,962. The most affordable entry point in Alfreton is a flat at £120,250, while in Dronfield it is a flat at £154,672.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 35% pricier in Dronfield (£237,262 vs £153,802).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Dronfield prices grew faster — 43% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsCrime is lower in Dronfield (52.2 per 1,000) compared to Alfreton (66.3 per 1,000), a 27% difference. The most common crime category in Alfreton is violent-crime, while in Dronfield 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 East MidlandsAlfreton has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Dronfield. Alfreton has 6 schools in total, while Dronfield has 10.
Alfreton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dronfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (9 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alfreton | Dronfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 10 |
| Primary | 5 | 9 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Alfreton offers faster average downloads at 407.9 Mbps, compared to 400.1 Mbps in Dronfield. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95% of premises in Alfreton and 95.1% in Dronfield. Gigabit availability stands at 78.6% in Alfreton and 76.9% in Dronfield.
Alfreton is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (408 vs 400 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Alfreton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.3 (band C) versus 69.3 (band C) in Dronfield. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,098 in Alfreton and £1,130 in Dronfield. 61.4% of homes in Alfreton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.9% in Dronfield.
Alfreton has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,877 in Dronfield and £28,973.5 in Alfreton. The median age is 45.3 in Alfreton and 47.3 in Dronfield. Employment rates stand at 56.5% in Alfreton and 54.6% in Dronfield. Owner-occupancy is 69% in Alfreton versus 70.5% in Dronfield.
| Indicator | Alfreton | Dronfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,790 | 21,019 |
| Median Age | 45.3 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,973.5 | £30,877 |
| Employment Rate | 56.5% | 54.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 69% | 70.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 24.9% | 27.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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