Ashbourne vs Darley Dale
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.0 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Darley Dale wins on house prices with a 51% gap. Darley Dale has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashbourne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ashbourne
£449,634
Darley Dale
£296,827
Crime Rate
Ashbourne
45.1
Darley Dale
45.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ashbourne
100.0%
Darley Dale
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ashbourne
243.9
Darley Dale
293.7
EPC Rating
Ashbourne
69.4
Darley Dale
68.5
Median Income
Ashbourne
£31,239
Darley Dale
£30,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Ashbourne commands an average of £449,634, compared with £296,827 in Darley Dale – a difference of 51%. The most affordable entry point in Ashbourne is a flat at £197,960, while in Darley Dale it is a terraced at £229,375.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Darley Dale (£300,000 vs £197,960).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ashbourne prices grew faster — 48% vs 16%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Darley Dale experience less crime overall, with a rate of 45 per 1,000 versus 45.1 per 1,000 in Ashbourne. The most common crime category in Ashbourne is violent-crime, while in Darley Dale 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 Darley Dale. There are 3 schools in Ashbourne and 2 in Darley Dale.
Ashbourne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Darley Dale School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ashbourne | Darley Dale |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 293.7 Mbps in Darley Dale and 243.9 Mbps in Ashbourne. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 79.9% of premises in Ashbourne and 89.1% in Darley Dale. Gigabit availability stands at 42.1% in Ashbourne and 52.3% in Darley Dale.
Darley Dale is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (294 vs 244 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ashbourne, scoring 69.4 on average (band C) compared to 68.5 (band C) in Darley Dale. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,301 in Ashbourne and £1,310 in Darley Dale. 58.2% of homes in Ashbourne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54% in Darley Dale.
Ashbourne has more energy-efficient housing — 58.2% reach band C or above, vs 54% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,239.4 in Ashbourne and £30,661.3 in Darley Dale. The median age is 46.2 in Ashbourne and 47.9 in Darley Dale. Employment rates stand at 57.7% in Ashbourne and 55.4% in Darley Dale. Owner-occupancy is 72.7% in Ashbourne versus 71.5% in Darley Dale. Ashbourne has a population of 8,854 and Darley Dale has 3,515.
| Indicator | Ashbourne | Darley Dale |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,854 | 3,515 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 47.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,239.4 | £30,661.3 |
| Employment Rate | 57.7% | 55.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.7% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.4% | 31.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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