Barnsley vs Ossett
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Barnsley is about 14% cheaper on average. Barnsley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnsley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnsley
£199,362
Ossett
£232,194
Crime Rate
Barnsley
94.8
Ossett
108.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnsley
100.0%
Ossett
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnsley
421.9
Ossett
476.2
EPC Rating
Barnsley
70.2
Ossett
69.4
Median Income
Barnsley
£30,472
Ossett
£29,073
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberBuyers will find Barnsley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £199,362 versus £232,194 in Ossett. The most affordable entry point in Barnsley is a flat at £99,003, while in Ossett it is a flat at £135,521.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 27% pricier in Ossett (£135,521 vs £99,003).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnsley prices grew faster — 46% vs 46%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberWith 94.8 offences per 1,000 people, Barnsley is the safer of the two – 14% lower than Ossett's 108.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnsley is violent-crime, while in Ossett 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 HumberSchool quality favours Barnsley: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Ossett.
Barnsley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 21 schools (18 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ossett School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (9 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnsley | Ossett |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 21 | 10 |
| Primary | 18 | 9 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Ossett enjoy 476.2 Mbps on average, while Barnsley lags behind at 421.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Barnsley and 98.7% in Ossett. Gigabit availability stands at 80.2% in Barnsley and 94.4% in Ossett.
Ossett is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (476 vs 422 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Barnsley is band C (score 70.2), ahead of Ossett's band C (score 69.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,134 in Barnsley and £1,174 in Ossett. 58.9% of homes in Barnsley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.1% in Ossett.
Barnsley has more energy-efficient housing — 58.9% reach band C or above, vs 58.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnsley has a population of 71,394 while Ossett has 21,854. Median household income is £30,472 in Barnsley and £29,072.5 in Ossett. The median age is 43.5 in Barnsley and 42.3 in Ossett. Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barnsley and 56.1% in Ossett.
| Indicator | Barnsley | Ossett |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,394 | 21,854 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 42.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,472 | £29,072.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 56.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 64% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.4% | 27.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnsley and Ossett?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barnsley or Ossett?
Is Barnsley or Ossett safer?
Which has better schools, Barnsley or Ossett?
Which has faster broadband, Barnsley or Ossett?
Keep exploring