Atherstone vs Desford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Atherstone offers lower property prices by roughly 9%. Desford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Atherstone edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Atherstone
£302,013
Desford
£330,177
Crime Rate
Atherstone
61.9
Desford
53.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Atherstone
100.0%
Desford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Atherstone
277
Desford
292.2
EPC Rating
Atherstone
70.6
Desford
71
Median Income
Atherstone
£31,264
Desford
£31,173
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Atherstone more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £302,013 versus £330,177 in Desford. The most affordable entry point in Atherstone is a flat at £131,690, while in Desford it is a flat at £109,125.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 21% pricier in Atherstone (£131,690 vs £109,125).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Atherstone prices grew faster — 43% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 53.2 offences per 1,000 people, Desford is the safer of the two – 16% lower than Atherstone's 61.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Atherstone is violent-crime, while in Desford 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 West MidlandsSchool quality favours Atherstone: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Desford.
Atherstone School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Desford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Atherstone | Desford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Desford enjoy 292.2 Mbps on average, while Atherstone lags behind at 277.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.2% of premises in Atherstone and 95.6% in Desford. Gigabit availability stands at 47% in Atherstone and 48.5% in Desford.
Desford is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (292 vs 277 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Desford is band C (score 71), ahead of Atherstone's band C (score 70.6). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,234 in Atherstone and £1,245 in Desford. 60.2% of homes in Atherstone have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.5% in Desford.
Desford has more energy-efficient housing — 61.5% reach band C or above, vs 60.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Atherstone has a population of 8,666 while Desford has 3,817. Median household income is £31,264 in Atherstone and £31,172.7 in Desford. The median age is 45.6 in Atherstone and 45.2 in Desford. Employment rates stand at 59.2% in Atherstone and 60.5% in Desford.
| Indicator | Atherstone | Desford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,666 | 3,817 |
| Median Age | 45.6 | 45.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,264 | £31,172.7 |
| Employment Rate | 59.2% | 60.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.4% | 76% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.1% | 32.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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