Town comparison
Barnoldswick vs Ilkley
Which is better to live in? 14.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Barnoldswick is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 61% lower. Barnoldswick has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ilkley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnoldswick
£185,134
Ilkley
£473,279
Crime Rate
Barnoldswick
27.9
Ilkley
119.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnoldswick
80.0%
Ilkley
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnoldswick
447.3
Ilkley
365.1
EPC Rating
Barnoldswick
70
Ilkley
70.3
Median Income
Barnoldswick
£29,567
Ilkley
£29,805
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £185,134, Barnoldswick undercuts Ilkley (£473,279) by around 61% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barnoldswick is a flat at £116,000, while in Ilkley it is a flat at £282,262.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 64% pricier in Ilkley (£411,675 vs £148,535).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnoldswick prices grew faster — 30% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestBarnoldswick has a crime rate of 27.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 329% lower than Ilkley at 119.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnoldswick is violent-crime, while in Ilkley 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 Ilkley, which has 5 schools, the figure is 100%.
Barnoldswick School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ilkley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnoldswick | Ilkley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 5 |
| Primary | 4 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 80% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Barnoldswick averages 447.3 Mbps – ahead of Ilkley's 365.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Barnoldswick and 91.7% in Ilkley. Gigabit availability stands at 87.8% in Barnoldswick and 66.9% in Ilkley.
Barnoldswick is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (447 vs 365 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Ilkley leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.3 (C), while Barnoldswick averages 70 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,427 in Barnoldswick and £1,370 in Ilkley. 58.8% of homes in Barnoldswick have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Ilkley.
Ilkley has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 58.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,804.9 in Ilkley and £29,566.6 in Barnoldswick. The median age is 47.3 in Barnoldswick and 46.2 in Ilkley. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Barnoldswick versus 66.4% in Ilkley. Employment rates stand at 56.4% in Barnoldswick and 56.4% in Ilkley.
| Indicator | Barnoldswick | Ilkley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,591 | 14,852 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 46.2 |
| Median Household Income | £29,566.6 | £29,804.9 |
| Employment Rate | 56.4% | 56.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 33.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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