Ashbourne vs Blythe Bridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Blythe Bridge wins on house prices with a 80% gap. Ashbourne has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashbourne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ashbourne
£449,634
Blythe Bridge
£249,655
Crime Rate
Ashbourne
45.1
Blythe Bridge
55.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ashbourne
100.0%
Blythe Bridge
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ashbourne
243.9
Blythe Bridge
296
EPC Rating
Ashbourne
69.4
Blythe Bridge
70.2
Median Income
Ashbourne
£31,239
Blythe Bridge
£30,767
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Ashbourne commands an average of £449,634, compared with £249,655 in Blythe Bridge – a difference of 80%. The most affordable entry point in Ashbourne is a flat at £197,960, while in Blythe Bridge it is a flat at £110,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 80% pricier in Ashbourne (£197,960 vs £110,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ashbourne prices grew faster — 48% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Ashbourne experience less crime overall, with a rate of 45.1 per 1,000 versus 55.6 per 1,000 in Blythe Bridge. The most common crime category in Ashbourne is violent-crime, while in Blythe Bridge 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 100% in Blythe Bridge. There are 3 schools in Ashbourne and 4 in Blythe Bridge.
Ashbourne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Blythe Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ashbourne | Blythe Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 4 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 296.0 Mbps in Blythe Bridge and 243.9 Mbps in Ashbourne. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 79.9% of premises in Ashbourne and 90.9% in Blythe Bridge. Gigabit availability stands at 42.1% in Ashbourne and 52.8% in Blythe Bridge.
Blythe Bridge is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (296 vs 244 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Blythe Bridge, scoring 70.2 on average (band C) compared to 69.4 (band C) in Ashbourne. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,301 in Ashbourne and £1,239 in Blythe Bridge. 58.2% of homes in Ashbourne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.3% in Blythe Bridge.
Blythe Bridge has more energy-efficient housing — 62.3% reach band C or above, vs 58.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,239.4 in Ashbourne and £30,767 in Blythe Bridge. The median age is 46.2 in Ashbourne and 45.3 in Blythe Bridge. Employment rates stand at 57.7% in Ashbourne and 56.1% in Blythe Bridge. Owner-occupancy is 72.7% in Ashbourne versus 68.3% in Blythe Bridge. Ashbourne has a population of 8,854 and Blythe Bridge has 6,798.
| Indicator | Ashbourne | Blythe Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,854 | 6,798 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 45.3 |
| Median Household Income | £31,239.4 | £30,767 |
| Employment Rate | 57.7% | 56.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.7% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.4% | 28.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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