Bacup vs Barrowford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Bacup is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barrowford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Barrowford
£195,365
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Barrowford
69.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Barrowford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Barrowford
445.5
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Barrowford
69.2
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Barrowford
£29,992
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Barrowford commands an average of £195,365, compared with £190,117 in Bacup – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Barrowford it is a flat at £101,450.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 21% pricier in Barrowford (£223,146 vs £176,447).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bacup prices grew faster — 57% vs 15%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestBacup has a crime rate of 64.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 7% lower than Barrowford at 69 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Barrowford 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 North WestFamilies may prefer Barrowford, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Bacup. There are 6 schools in Bacup and 3 in Barrowford.
Bacup School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (6 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Barrowford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Barrowford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 3 |
| Primary | 6 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 445.5 Mbps in Barrowford and 230.0 Mbps in Bacup. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 96.4% in Barrowford. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 87.4% in Barrowford.
Barrowford is the faster of the two by 94% on average download speed (446 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bacup, scoring 69.3 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Barrowford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,398 in Bacup and £1,386 in Barrowford. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.6% in Barrowford.
Bacup has more energy-efficient housing — 59.9% reach band C or above, vs 55.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £29,992 in Barrowford. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 44.5 in Barrowford. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 55.9% in Barrowford. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Bacup versus 70.2% in Barrowford. Bacup has a population of 14,194 and Barrowford has 5,887.
| Indicator | Bacup | Barrowford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 5,887 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £29,992 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 55.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 70.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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