Barnsley vs Castleford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Barnsley is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 5% lower. Barnsley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnsley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnsley
£199,362
Castleford
£209,081
Crime Rate
Barnsley
94.8
Castleford
108.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnsley
100.0%
Castleford
76.9%
Avg Download Speed
Barnsley
421.9
Castleford
464.2
EPC Rating
Barnsley
70.2
Castleford
70.9
Median Income
Barnsley
£30,472
Castleford
£30,276
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberProperty in Castleford commands an average of £209,081, compared with £199,362 in Barnsley – a difference of 5%. The most affordable entry point in Barnsley is a flat at £99,003, while in Castleford it is a flat at £106,662.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 12% pricier in Castleford (£150,109 vs £132,170).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnsley prices grew faster — 46% vs 37%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberBarnsley has a crime rate of 94.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 14% lower than Castleford at 108.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnsley is violent-crime, while in Castleford 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 Yorkshire and the HumberFamilies may prefer Barnsley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 76.9% in Castleford. There are 21 schools in Barnsley and 15 in Castleford.
Barnsley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 21 schools (18 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Castleford School Inspection Breakdown
76.9% of 15 schools (13 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnsley | Castleford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 21 | 15 |
| Primary | 18 | 13 |
| Secondary | 3 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 76.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 464.2 Mbps in Castleford and 421.9 Mbps in Barnsley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Barnsley and 96.5% in Castleford. Gigabit availability stands at 80.2% in Barnsley and 91.8% in Castleford.
Castleford is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (464 vs 422 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Castleford, scoring 70.9 on average (band C) compared to 70.2 (band C) in Barnsley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,134 in Barnsley and £1,132 in Castleford. 58.9% of homes in Barnsley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64% in Castleford.
Castleford has more energy-efficient housing — 64% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,472 in Barnsley and £30,276 in Castleford. The median age is 43.5 in Barnsley and 41.5 in Castleford. Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barnsley and 57% in Castleford. Owner-occupancy is 62.3% in Barnsley versus 59.8% in Castleford. Barnsley has a population of 71,394 and Castleford has 45,363.
| Indicator | Barnsley | Castleford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,394 | 45,363 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 41.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,472 | £30,276 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 57% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 59.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.4% | 29.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnsley and Castleford?
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