Town comparison
Ashbourne vs Derby
Which is better to live in? 12.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Derby wins on house prices with a 71% gap. Ashbourne has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ashbourne edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ashbourne
£449,634
Derby
£262,742
Crime Rate
Ashbourne
45.1
Derby
109.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ashbourne
100.0%
Derby
91.6%
Avg Download Speed
Ashbourne
243.9
Derby
496
EPC Rating
Ashbourne
69.4
Derby
71.2
Median Income
Ashbourne
£31,239
Derby
£32,106
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Ashbourne commands an average of £449,634, compared with £262,742 in Derby – a difference of 71%. The most affordable entry point in Ashbourne is a flat at £197,960, while in Derby it is a flat at £129,279.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 53% pricier in Ashbourne (£197,960 vs £129,279).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ashbourne prices grew faster — 48% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Ashbourne experience less crime overall, with a rate of 45.1 per 1,000 versus 109.4 per 1,000 in Derby. The most common crime category in Ashbourne is violent-crime, while in Derby 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 91.6% in Derby. There are 3 schools in Ashbourne and 93 in Derby.
Ashbourne School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Derby School Inspection Breakdown
91.6% of 93 schools (77 primary, 16 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ashbourne | Derby |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 93 |
| Primary | 2 | 77 |
| Secondary | 1 | 16 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 91.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 496.0 Mbps in Derby and 243.9 Mbps in Ashbourne. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 79.9% of premises in Ashbourne and 99.7% in Derby. Gigabit availability stands at 42.1% in Ashbourne and 99.1% in Derby.
Derby is the faster of the two by 103% on average download speed (496 vs 244 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Derby, scoring 71.2 on average (band C) compared to 69.4 (band C) in Ashbourne. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,301 in Ashbourne and £1,117 in Derby. 58.2% of homes in Ashbourne have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.3% in Derby.
Derby has more energy-efficient housing — 64.3% reach band C or above, vs 58.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,105.5 in Derby and £31,239.4 in Ashbourne. The median age is 46.2 in Ashbourne and 41.8 in Derby. Employment rates stand at 57.7% in Ashbourne and 58.8% in Derby. Owner-occupancy is 72.7% in Ashbourne versus 66.8% in Derby. Ashbourne has a population of 8,854 and Derby has 275,561.
| Indicator | Ashbourne | Derby |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,854 | 275,561 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 41.8 |
| Median Household Income | £31,239.4 | £32,105.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.7% | 58.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.7% | 66.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.4% | 30.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Ashbourne and Derby?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Ashbourne or Derby?
Is Ashbourne or Derby safer?
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