Belper vs Castle Donington
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Belper is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 9% lower. Castle Donington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Castle Donington edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Belper
£290,909
Castle Donington
£321,094
Crime Rate
Belper
66.4
Castle Donington
54.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Belper
75.0%
Castle Donington
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Belper
339.1
Castle Donington
319.9
EPC Rating
Belper
67.8
Castle Donington
71.7
Median Income
Belper
£30,608
Castle Donington
£31,829
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsAt £290,909, Belper undercuts Castle Donington (£321,094) by around 9% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Belper is a flat at £135,318, while in Castle Donington it is a flat at £154,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 12% pricier in Castle Donington (£154,000 vs £135,318).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Belper prices grew faster — 48% vs 11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsCastle Donington has a crime rate of 54.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 22% lower than Belper at 66.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Belper is violent-crime, while in Castle Donington 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 6 schools in Belper, 75% are in the top two inspection bands. In Castle Donington, which has 4 schools, the figure is 100%.
Belper School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Castle Donington School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Belper | Castle Donington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 4 |
| Primary | 5 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Belper averages 339.1 Mbps – ahead of Castle Donington's 319.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.3% of premises in Belper and 90.1% in Castle Donington. Gigabit availability stands at 60.7% in Belper and 58.7% in Castle Donington.
Belper is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (339 vs 320 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Castle Donington leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.7 (C), while Belper averages 67.8 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,332 in Belper and £1,147 in Castle Donington. 50.8% of homes in Belper have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.7% in Castle Donington.
Castle Donington has more energy-efficient housing — 62.7% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,828.7 in Castle Donington and £30,607.7 in Belper. The median age is 47.1 in Belper and 43.4 in Castle Donington. Owner-occupancy is 71.3% in Belper versus 68.8% in Castle Donington. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Belper and 58% in Castle Donington.
| Indicator | Belper | Castle Donington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,076 | 7,344 |
| Median Age | 47.1 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £30,607.7 | £31,828.7 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 58% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.3% | 68.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 35% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Belper and Castle Donington?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Belper or Castle Donington?
Is Belper or Castle Donington safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Belper or Castle Donington?
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