Barwell vs Leicester
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Barwell is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 22% lower. Barwell has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barwell edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barwell
£248,290
Leicester
£319,567
Crime Rate
Barwell
97.2
Leicester
100.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barwell
100.0%
Leicester
90.8%
Avg Download Speed
Barwell
292.2
Leicester
484.4
EPC Rating
Barwell
71
Leicester
70.3
Median Income
Barwell
£31,173
Leicester
£28,975
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsAt £248,290, Barwell undercuts Leicester (£319,567) by around 22% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barwell is a flat at £99,385, while in Leicester it is a flat at £129,535.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 35% pricier in Leicester (£454,407 vs £294,614).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barwell prices grew faster — 69% vs 47%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsBarwell has a crime rate of 97.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 3% lower than Leicester at 100.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barwell is violent-crime, while in Leicester 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 MidlandsOf the 2 schools in Barwell, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Leicester, which has 111 schools, the figure is 90.8%.
Barwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Leicester School Inspection Breakdown
90.8% of 111 schools (89 primary, 22 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barwell | Leicester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 111 |
| Primary | 2 | 89 |
| Secondary | 0 | 22 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Leicester averages 484.4 Mbps – ahead of Barwell's 292.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.6% of premises in Barwell and 99% in Leicester. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Barwell and 96.3% in Leicester.
Leicester is the faster of the two by 66% on average download speed (484 vs 292 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Barwell, scoring 71 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Leicester. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,245 in Barwell and £1,165 in Leicester. 61.5% of homes in Barwell have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.4% in Leicester.
Barwell has more energy-efficient housing — 61.5% reach band C or above, vs 59.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,172.7 in Barwell and £28,975 in Leicester. The median age is 45.2 in Barwell and 42.2 in Leicester. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Barwell and 58.1% in Leicester. Owner-occupancy is 76% in Barwell versus 66.3% in Leicester. Barwell has a population of 9,149 and Leicester has 406,331.
| Indicator | Barwell | Leicester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,149 | 406,331 |
| Median Age | 45.2 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,172.7 | £28,975 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 58.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 76% | 66.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.6% | 28.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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