Barrowford vs Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Barrowford is about 14% cheaper on average. Barrowford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barrowford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barrowford
£195,365
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
£228,340
Crime Rate
Barrowford
69.0
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
84.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barrowford
100.0%
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
97.7%
Avg Download Speed
Barrowford
445.5
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
398.1
EPC Rating
Barrowford
69.2
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
71.8
Median Income
Barrowford
£29,992
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
£30,947
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Barrowford is £195,365, which is 14% less than Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) at £228,340. The most affordable entry point in Barrowford is a flat at £101,450, while in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) it is a flat at £101,069.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 14% pricier in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) (£346,938 vs £296,771).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) prices grew faster — 30% vs 15%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 69 offences per 1,000 people, Barrowford is the safer of the two – 22% lower than Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen)'s 84.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barrowford is violent-crime, while in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) 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 North WestBarrowford has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 97.7% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Barrowford has 3 schools in total, while Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has 52.
Barrowford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) School Inspection Breakdown
97.7% of 52 schools (43 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barrowford | Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 52 |
| Primary | 3 | 43 |
| Secondary | 0 | 9 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 97.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Barrowford offers faster average downloads at 445.5 Mbps, compared to 398.1 Mbps in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.4% of premises in Barrowford and 95.5% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Gigabit availability stands at 87.4% in Barrowford and 76.3% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen).
Barrowford is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (446 vs 398 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 69.2 (band C) in Barrowford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,386 in Barrowford and £1,178 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). 55.6% of homes in Barrowford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.9% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen).
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.9% reach band C or above, vs 55.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,947.2 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and £29,992 in Barrowford. The median age is 44.5 in Barrowford and 44 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barrowford and 57.9% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). Owner-occupancy is 70.2% in Barrowford versus 71% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen).
| Indicator | Barrowford | Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,887 | 124,958 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 44 |
| Median Household Income | £29,992 | £30,947.2 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 57.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.2% | 71% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 33.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barrowford and Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barrowford or Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen)?
Is Barrowford or Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) safer?
Which has better schools, Barrowford or Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen)?
Which has faster broadband, Barrowford or Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen)?
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