Barnsley vs Walton (Wakefield)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Barnsley is about 58% 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
Walton (Wakefield)
£479,188
Crime Rate
Barnsley
94.8
Walton (Wakefield)
109.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnsley
100.0%
Walton (Wakefield)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnsley
421.9
Walton (Wakefield)
459.8
EPC Rating
Barnsley
70.2
Walton (Wakefield)
70.9
Median Income
Barnsley
£30,472
Walton (Wakefield)
£30,276
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberBuyers will find Barnsley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £199,362 versus £479,188 in Walton (wakefield). The most affordable entry point in Barnsley is a flat at £99,003, while in Walton (wakefield) it is a flat at £189,143.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 53% pricier in Walton (wakefield) (£281,238 vs £132,170).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnsley prices grew faster — 46% vs 42%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberCrime is lower in Barnsley (94.8 per 1,000) compared to Walton (wakefield) (109 per 1,000), a 15% difference. The most common crime category in Barnsley is violent-crime, while in Walton (wakefield) 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 Walton (wakefield).
Barnsley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 21 schools (18 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Walton (Wakefield) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnsley | Walton (Wakefield) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 21 | 1 |
| Primary | 18 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Walton (wakefield) enjoy 459.8 Mbps on average, while Barnsley lags behind at 421.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.2% of premises in Barnsley and 97.8% in Walton (wakefield). Gigabit availability stands at 80.2% in Barnsley and 90.5% in Walton (wakefield).
Walton (wakefield) is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (460 vs 422 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Walton (wakefield) is band C (score 70.9), ahead of Barnsley's band C (score 70.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,134 in Barnsley and £1,132 in Walton (wakefield). 58.9% of homes in Barnsley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64% in Walton (wakefield).
Walton (wakefield) has more energy-efficient housing — 64% reach band C or above, vs 58.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnsley has a population of 71,394 while Walton (wakefield) has 3,266. Median household income is £30,472 in Barnsley and £30,276 in Walton (wakefield). The median age is 43.5 in Barnsley and 41.5 in Walton (wakefield). Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barnsley and 57% in Walton (wakefield).
| Indicator | Barnsley | Walton (Wakefield) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,394 | 3,266 |
| 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 Walton (wakefield)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barnsley or Walton (wakefield)?
Is Barnsley or Walton (wakefield) safer?
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