Alfreton vs Forest Town
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.6 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Forest Town wins on house prices with a 2% gap. Alfreton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Alfreton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alfreton
£240,964
Forest Town
£235,607
Crime Rate
Alfreton
66.3
Forest Town
92.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alfreton
100.0%
Forest Town
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Alfreton
407.9
Forest Town
440.8
EPC Rating
Alfreton
70.3
Forest Town
70.4
Median Income
Alfreton
£28,974
Forest Town
£27,804
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsAt £235,607, Forest Town undercuts Alfreton (£240,964) by around 2% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alfreton is a flat at £120,250, while in Forest Town it is a flat at £61,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 97% pricier in Alfreton (£120,250 vs £61,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Forest Town prices grew faster — 63% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Alfreton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 66.3 per 1,000 versus 92 per 1,000 in Forest Town. The most common crime category in Alfreton is violent-crime, while in Forest Town 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 MidlandsOf the 6 schools in Alfreton, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Forest Town, which has 8 schools, the figure is 87.5%.
Alfreton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Forest Town School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alfreton | Forest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 8 |
| Primary | 5 | 7 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Forest Town averages 440.8 Mbps – ahead of Alfreton's 407.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95% of premises in Alfreton and 98% in Forest Town. Gigabit availability stands at 78.6% in Alfreton and 85.3% in Forest Town.
Forest Town is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (441 vs 408 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Forest Town, scoring 70.4 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Alfreton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,098 in Alfreton and £1,086 in Forest Town. 61.4% of homes in Alfreton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.8% in Forest Town.
Forest Town has more energy-efficient housing — 61.8% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,973.5 in Alfreton and £27,804.2 in Forest Town. The median age is 45.3 in Alfreton and 44.3 in Forest Town. Employment rates stand at 56.5% in Alfreton and 56.8% in Forest Town. Owner-occupancy is 69% in Alfreton versus 66.6% in Forest Town. Alfreton has a population of 8,790 and Forest Town has 19,015.
| Indicator | Alfreton | Forest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,790 | 19,015 |
| Median Age | 45.3 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,973.5 | £27,804.2 |
| Employment Rate | 56.5% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 69% | 66.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 24.9% | 23.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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