Barnsley vs South Elmsall
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Barnsley offers lower property prices by roughly 16%. Barnsley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnsley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnsley
£199,362
South Elmsall
£237,623
Crime Rate
Barnsley
94.8
South Elmsall
194.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnsley
100.0%
South Elmsall
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnsley
421.9
South Elmsall
474.5
EPC Rating
Barnsley
70.2
South Elmsall
70.4
Median Income
Barnsley
£30,472
South Elmsall
£29,087
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberBuyers will find Barnsley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £199,362 versus £237,623 in South Elmsall. The most affordable entry point in Barnsley is a flat at £99,003, while in South Elmsall it is a flat at £70,667.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 40% pricier in Barnsley (£99,003 vs £70,667).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, South Elmsall prices grew faster — 102% vs 46%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberCrime is lower in Barnsley (94.8 per 1,000) compared to South Elmsall (194 per 1,000), a 105% difference. The most common crime category in Barnsley is violent-crime, while in South Elmsall 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 South Elmsall.
Barnsley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 21 schools (18 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
South Elmsall School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnsley | South Elmsall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 21 | 5 |
| Primary | 18 | 4 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in South Elmsall enjoy 474.5 Mbps on average, while Barnsley lags behind at 421.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Barnsley and 97.7% in South Elmsall. Gigabit availability stands at 80.2% in Barnsley and 94.1% in South Elmsall.
South Elmsall is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (475 vs 422 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in South Elmsall is band C (score 70.4), ahead of Barnsley's band C (score 70.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,134 in Barnsley and £1,126 in South Elmsall. 58.9% of homes in Barnsley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.8% in South Elmsall.
South Elmsall has more energy-efficient housing — 62.8% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnsley has a population of 71,394 while South Elmsall has 11,187. Median household income is £30,472 in Barnsley and £29,087 in South Elmsall. The median age is 43.5 in Barnsley and 42.9 in South Elmsall. Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barnsley and 57.3% in South Elmsall.
| Indicator | Barnsley | South Elmsall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,394 | 11,187 |
| Median Age | 43.5 | 42.9 |
| Median Household Income | £30,472 | £29,087 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 57.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.3% | 62.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.4% | 24.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnsley and South Elmsall?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barnsley or South Elmsall?
Is Barnsley or South Elmsall safer?
Which has better schools, Barnsley or South Elmsall?
Which has faster broadband, Barnsley or South Elmsall?
Keep exploring