Barrowford vs Rawtenstall
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Barrowford is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 21% lower. Rawtenstall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barrowford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barrowford
£195,365
Rawtenstall
£246,862
Crime Rate
Barrowford
69.0
Rawtenstall
64.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barrowford
100.0%
Rawtenstall
70.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barrowford
445.5
Rawtenstall
381.6
EPC Rating
Barrowford
69.2
Rawtenstall
69.3
Median Income
Barrowford
£29,992
Rawtenstall
£30,420
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £195,365, Barrowford undercuts Rawtenstall (£246,862) by around 21% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barrowford is a flat at £101,450, while in Rawtenstall it is a flat at £149,086.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Rawtenstall (£149,086 vs £101,450).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Rawtenstall prices grew faster — 56% vs 15%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestRawtenstall has a crime rate of 64.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 7% lower than Barrowford at 69 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barrowford is violent-crime, while in Rawtenstall 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 WestOf the 3 schools in Barrowford, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Rawtenstall, which has 13 schools, the figure is 70%.
Barrowford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Rawtenstall School Inspection Breakdown
70% of 13 schools (9 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barrowford | Rawtenstall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 13 |
| Primary | 3 | 9 |
| Secondary | 0 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 70% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Barrowford averages 445.5 Mbps – ahead of Rawtenstall's 381.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.4% of premises in Barrowford and 93.5% in Rawtenstall. Gigabit availability stands at 87.4% in Barrowford and 71.1% in Rawtenstall.
Barrowford is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (446 vs 382 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Rawtenstall leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 69.3 (C), while Barrowford averages 69.2 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,386 in Barrowford and £1,398 in Rawtenstall. 55.6% of homes in Barrowford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.9% in Rawtenstall.
Rawtenstall has more energy-efficient housing — 59.9% reach band C or above, vs 55.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,420 in Rawtenstall and £29,992 in Barrowford. The median age is 44.5 in Barrowford and 43.3 in Rawtenstall. Owner-occupancy is 70.2% in Barrowford versus 67.9% in Rawtenstall. Employment rates stand at 55.9% in Barrowford and 57.8% in Rawtenstall.
| Indicator | Barrowford | Rawtenstall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,887 | 23,381 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 43.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,992 | £30,420 |
| Employment Rate | 55.9% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.2% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barrowford and Rawtenstall?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Barrowford or Rawtenstall?
Is Barrowford or Rawtenstall safer?
Which has better schools, Barrowford or Rawtenstall?
Which has faster broadband, Barrowford or Rawtenstall?
Keep exploring