Barnoldswick vs Barrowford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Barnoldswick wins on house prices with a 5% gap. Barnoldswick has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barrowford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnoldswick
£185,134
Barrowford
£195,365
Crime Rate
Barnoldswick
27.9
Barrowford
69.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnoldswick
80.0%
Barrowford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnoldswick
447.3
Barrowford
445.5
EPC Rating
Barnoldswick
70
Barrowford
69.2
Median Income
Barnoldswick
£29,567
Barrowford
£29,992
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £185,134, Barnoldswick undercuts Barrowford (£195,365) by around 5% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barnoldswick is a flat at £116,000, while in Barrowford it is a flat at £101,450.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 19% pricier in Barnoldswick (£353,559 vs £296,771).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnoldswick prices grew faster — 30% vs 15%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Barnoldswick experience less crime overall, with a rate of 27.9 per 1,000 versus 69 per 1,000 in Barrowford. The most common crime category in Barnoldswick 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 WestOf the 5 schools in Barnoldswick, 80% are in the top two inspection bands. In Barrowford, which has 3 schools, the figure is 100%.
Barnoldswick School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) 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 | Barnoldswick | Barrowford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 3 |
| Primary | 4 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 80% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Barnoldswick averages 447.3 Mbps – ahead of Barrowford's 445.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Barnoldswick and 96.4% in Barrowford. Gigabit availability stands at 87.8% in Barnoldswick and 87.4% in Barrowford.
Barnoldswick is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (447 vs 446 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Barnoldswick, scoring 70 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Barrowford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,427 in Barnoldswick and £1,386 in Barrowford. 58.8% of homes in Barnoldswick have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.6% in Barrowford.
Barnoldswick has more energy-efficient housing — 58.8% reach band C or above, vs 55.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,992 in Barrowford and £29,566.6 in Barnoldswick. The median age is 47.3 in Barnoldswick and 44.5 in Barrowford. Employment rates stand at 56.4% in Barnoldswick and 55.9% in Barrowford. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Barnoldswick versus 70.2% in Barrowford. Barnoldswick has a population of 10,591 and Barrowford has 5,887.
| Indicator | Barnoldswick | Barrowford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,591 | 5,887 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,566.6 | £29,992 |
| Employment Rate | 56.4% | 55.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 70.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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