Town comparison
Barnoldswick vs Skipton
Which is better to live in? 7.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Barnoldswick is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 44% lower. Barnoldswick has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Skipton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnoldswick
£185,134
Skipton
£329,091
Crime Rate
Barnoldswick
27.9
Skipton
47.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnoldswick
80.0%
Skipton
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Barnoldswick
447.3
Skipton
327.6
EPC Rating
Barnoldswick
70
Skipton
70.1
Median Income
Barnoldswick
£29,567
Skipton
£29,917
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £185,134, Barnoldswick undercuts Skipton (£329,091) by around 44% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barnoldswick is a flat at £116,000, while in Skipton it is a flat at £190,911.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 39% pricier in Skipton (£190,911 vs £116,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnoldswick prices grew faster — 30% vs 4%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestBarnoldswick has a crime rate of 27.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 70% lower than Skipton at 47.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnoldswick is violent-crime, while in Skipton 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 Skipton, which has 8 schools, the figure is 87.5%.
Barnoldswick School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Skipton School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (5 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnoldswick | Skipton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 8 |
| Primary | 4 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 80% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Barnoldswick averages 447.3 Mbps – ahead of Skipton's 327.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Barnoldswick and 87.5% in Skipton. Gigabit availability stands at 87.8% in Barnoldswick and 59.9% in Skipton.
Barnoldswick is the faster of the two by 37% on average download speed (447 vs 328 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Skipton, scoring 70.1 on average (band C) compared to 70 (band C) in Barnoldswick. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,427 in Barnoldswick and £1,422 in Skipton. 58.8% of homes in Barnoldswick have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.7% in Skipton.
Barnoldswick has more energy-efficient housing — 58.8% reach band C or above, vs 58.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,916.6 in Skipton and £29,566.6 in Barnoldswick. The median age is 47.3 in Barnoldswick and 47.3 in Skipton. Employment rates stand at 56.4% in Barnoldswick and 56.7% in Skipton. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Barnoldswick versus 68.8% in Skipton. Barnoldswick has a population of 10,591 and Skipton has 15,050.
| Indicator | Barnoldswick | Skipton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,591 | 15,050 |
| Median Age | 47.3 | 47.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,566.6 | £29,916.6 |
| Employment Rate | 56.4% | 56.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.1% | 33.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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