Town comparison
Ashbourne vs Belper
Which is better to live in? 10.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Belper wins on house prices with a 55% gap. Ashbourne has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashbourne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ashbourne
£449,634
Belper
£290,909
Crime Rate
Ashbourne
45.1
Belper
66.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ashbourne
100.0%
Belper
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ashbourne
243.9
Belper
339.1
EPC Rating
Ashbourne
69.4
Belper
67.8
Median Income
Ashbourne
£31,239
Belper
£30,608
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Ashbourne commands an average of £449,634, compared with £290,909 in Belper – a difference of 55%. The most affordable entry point in Ashbourne is a flat at £197,960, while in Belper it is a flat at £135,318.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 46% pricier in Ashbourne (£197,960 vs £135,318).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ashbourne prices grew faster — 48% vs 48%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Ashbourne experience less crime overall, with a rate of 45.1 per 1,000 versus 66.4 per 1,000 in Belper. The most common crime category in Ashbourne is violent-crime, while in Belper 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Ashbourne, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 75% in Belper. There are 3 schools in Ashbourne and 6 in Belper.
Ashbourne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Belper School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ashbourne | Belper |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 6 |
| Primary | 2 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 339.1 Mbps in Belper and 243.9 Mbps in Ashbourne. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 79.9% of premises in Ashbourne and 95.3% in Belper. Gigabit availability stands at 42.1% in Ashbourne and 60.7% in Belper.
Belper is the faster of the two by 39% on average download speed (339 vs 244 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ashbourne, scoring 69.4 on average (band C) compared to 67.8 (band C) in Belper. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,301 in Ashbourne and £1,332 in Belper. 58.2% of homes in Ashbourne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 50.8% in Belper.
Ashbourne has more energy-efficient housing — 58.2% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,239.4 in Ashbourne and £30,607.7 in Belper. The median age is 46.2 in Ashbourne and 47.1 in Belper. Employment rates stand at 57.7% in Ashbourne and 56.8% in Belper. Owner-occupancy is 72.7% in Ashbourne versus 71.3% in Belper. Ashbourne has a population of 8,854 and Belper has 19,076.
| Indicator | Ashbourne | Belper |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,854 | 19,076 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 47.1 |
| Median Household Income | £31,239.4 | £30,607.7 |
| Employment Rate | 57.7% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.7% | 71.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.4% | 31.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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