Barnsley vs Rotherham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Barnsley offers lower property prices by roughly 5%. Rotherham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnsley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnsley
£199,362
Rotherham
£209,305
Crime Rate
Barnsley
94.8
Rotherham
90.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnsley
100.0%
Rotherham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnsley
421.9
Rotherham
459.6
EPC Rating
Barnsley
70.2
Rotherham
70
Median Income
Barnsley
£30,472
Rotherham
£29,076
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberThe average house price in Barnsley is £199,362, which is 5% less than Rotherham at £209,305. The most affordable entry point in Barnsley is a flat at £99,003, while in Rotherham it is a flat at £98,917.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 9% pricier in Barnsley (£132,170 vs £120,796).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnsley prices grew faster — 46% vs 15%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberWith 90.9 offences per 1,000 people, Rotherham is the safer of the two – 4% lower than Barnsley's 94.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnsley is violent-crime, while in Rotherham 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 Rotherham. Barnsley has 21 schools in total, while Rotherham has 28.
Barnsley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 21 schools (18 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Rotherham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 28 schools (23 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnsley | Rotherham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 21 | 28 |
| Primary | 18 | 23 |
| Secondary | 3 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Rotherham offers faster average downloads at 459.6 Mbps, compared to 421.9 Mbps in Barnsley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Barnsley and 96.4% in Rotherham. Gigabit availability stands at 80.2% in Barnsley and 90.6% in Rotherham.
Rotherham is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (460 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 (band C) in Rotherham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,134 in Barnsley and £1,063 in Rotherham. 58.9% of homes in Barnsley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62% in Rotherham.
Rotherham has more energy-efficient housing — 62% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,472 in Barnsley and £29,075.5 in Rotherham. The median age is 43.5 in Barnsley and 42.2 in Rotherham. Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barnsley and 53.8% in Rotherham. Owner-occupancy is 62.3% in Barnsley versus 61% in Rotherham.
| Indicator | Barnsley | Rotherham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,394 | 70,761 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £30,472 | £29,075.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 53.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 61% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.4% | 28.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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