Barnsley vs Goldthorpe
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Goldthorpe offers lower property prices by roughly 48%. Barnsley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnsley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnsley
£199,362
Goldthorpe
£134,721
Crime Rate
Barnsley
94.8
Goldthorpe
94.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnsley
100.0%
Goldthorpe
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnsley
421.9
Goldthorpe
440.5
EPC Rating
Barnsley
70.2
Goldthorpe
70.2
Median Income
Barnsley
£30,472
Goldthorpe
£29,219
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberThe average house price in Goldthorpe is £134,721, which is 48% less than Barnsley at £199,362. The most affordable entry point in Barnsley is a flat at £99,003, while in Goldthorpe it is a terraced at £78,142.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 69% pricier in Barnsley (£132,170 vs £78,142).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnsley prices grew faster — 46% vs 33%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberCrime is lower in Barnsley (94.8 per 1,000) compared to Goldthorpe (94.9 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Barnsley is violent-crime, while in Goldthorpe 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 HumberBarnsley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Goldthorpe. Barnsley has 21 schools in total, while Goldthorpe has 4.
Barnsley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 21 schools (18 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Goldthorpe School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnsley | Goldthorpe |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 21 | 4 |
| Primary | 18 | 3 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Goldthorpe offers faster average downloads at 440.5 Mbps, compared to 421.9 Mbps in Barnsley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Barnsley and 98% in Goldthorpe. Gigabit availability stands at 80.2% in Barnsley and 85.4% in Goldthorpe.
Goldthorpe is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (441 vs 422 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Barnsley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.2 (band C) versus 70.2 (band C) in Goldthorpe. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,134 in Barnsley and £1,100 in Goldthorpe. 58.9% of homes in Barnsley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.7% in Goldthorpe.
Goldthorpe has more energy-efficient housing — 60.7% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,472 in Barnsley and £29,218.5 in Goldthorpe. The median age is 43.5 in Barnsley and 43.4 in Goldthorpe. Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barnsley and 55.2% in Goldthorpe. Owner-occupancy is 62.3% in Barnsley versus 63% in Goldthorpe.
| Indicator | Barnsley | Goldthorpe |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,394 | 7,493 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £30,472 | £29,218.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 55.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 63% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.4% | 23.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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