Barwell vs Birstall
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Barwell offers lower property prices by roughly 5%. Birstall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barwell edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barwell
£248,290
Birstall
£260,306
Crime Rate
Barwell
97.2
Birstall
68.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barwell
100.0%
Birstall
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barwell
292.2
Birstall
486.2
EPC Rating
Barwell
71
Birstall
70.4
Median Income
Barwell
£31,173
Birstall
£30,112
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Barwell is £248,290, which is 5% less than Birstall at £260,306. The most affordable entry point in Barwell is a flat at £99,385, while in Birstall it is a flat at £166,694.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 40% pricier in Birstall (£166,694 vs £99,385).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barwell prices grew faster — 69% vs 39%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 68 offences per 1,000 people, Birstall is the safer of the two – 43% lower than Barwell's 97.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barwell is violent-crime, while in Birstall 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 East MidlandsBarwell has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Birstall. Barwell has 2 schools in total, while Birstall has 4.
Barwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Birstall School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barwell | Birstall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 4 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Birstall offers faster average downloads at 486.2 Mbps, compared to 292.2 Mbps in Barwell. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.6% of premises in Barwell and 99.1% in Birstall. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barwell and 96.8% in Birstall.
Birstall is the faster of the two by 66% on average download speed (486 vs 292 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Barwell are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71 (band C) versus 70.4 (band C) in Birstall. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,245 in Barwell and £1,102 in Birstall. 61.5% of homes in Barwell have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.4% in Birstall.
Birstall has more energy-efficient housing — 62.4% reach band C or above, vs 61.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,172.7 in Barwell and £30,111.7 in Birstall. The median age is 45.2 in Barwell and 41.2 in Birstall. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Barwell and 56.7% in Birstall. Owner-occupancy is 76% in Barwell versus 64.8% in Birstall.
| Indicator | Barwell | Birstall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,149 | 13,960 |
| Median Age | 45.2 | 41.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,172.7 | £30,111.7 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 56.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 76% | 64.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.6% | 30% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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