Bamber Bridge vs Great Harwood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Great Harwood wins on house prices with a 48% gap. Bamber Bridge has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Great Harwood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bamber Bridge
£240,197
Great Harwood
£162,389
Crime Rate
Bamber Bridge
55.7
Great Harwood
189.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bamber Bridge
90.0%
Great Harwood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bamber Bridge
412.3
Great Harwood
442
EPC Rating
Bamber Bridge
72.5
Great Harwood
70.3
Median Income
Bamber Bridge
£31,149
Great Harwood
£29,448
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Bamber Bridge commands an average of £240,197, compared with £162,389 in Great Harwood – a difference of 48%. The most affordable entry point in Bamber Bridge is a flat at £109,264, while in Great Harwood it is a flat at £67,800.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 61% pricier in Bamber Bridge (£109,264 vs £67,800).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Great Harwood prices grew faster — 26% vs 10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Bamber Bridge experience less crime overall, with a rate of 55.7 per 1,000 versus 189.3 per 1,000 in Great Harwood. The most common crime category in Bamber Bridge is violent-crime, while in Great Harwood 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 Great Harwood, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 90% in Bamber Bridge. There are 16 schools in Bamber Bridge and 5 in Great Harwood.
Bamber Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 16 schools (13 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Great Harwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (5 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bamber Bridge | Great Harwood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 5 |
| Primary | 13 | 5 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 90% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 442.0 Mbps in Great Harwood and 412.3 Mbps in Bamber Bridge. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.5% of premises in Bamber Bridge and 95.3% in Great Harwood. Gigabit availability stands at 79.4% in Bamber Bridge and 86% in Great Harwood.
Great Harwood is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (442 vs 412 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bamber Bridge, scoring 72.5 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Great Harwood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,089 in Bamber Bridge and £1,268 in Great Harwood. 69.5% of homes in Bamber Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.9% in Great Harwood.
Bamber Bridge has more energy-efficient housing — 69.5% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,149 in Bamber Bridge and £29,448.3 in Great Harwood. The median age is 43 in Bamber Bridge and 42.7 in Great Harwood. Employment rates stand at 58.5% in Bamber Bridge and 55.5% in Great Harwood. Owner-occupancy is 68.8% in Bamber Bridge versus 66.4% in Great Harwood. Bamber Bridge has a population of 40,045 and Great Harwood has 11,022.
| Indicator | Bamber Bridge | Great Harwood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,045 | 11,022 |
| Median Age | 43 | 42.7 |
| Median Household Income | £31,149 | £29,448.3 |
| Employment Rate | 58.5% | 55.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.8% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 30.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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