Town comparison
Belper vs Clay Cross
Which is better to live in? 10.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Clay Cross offers lower property prices by roughly 35%. Clay Cross has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Clay Cross edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Belper
£290,909
Clay Cross
£215,091
Crime Rate
Belper
66.4
Clay Cross
52.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Belper
75.0%
Clay Cross
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Belper
339.1
Clay Cross
311.8
EPC Rating
Belper
67.8
Clay Cross
70.2
Median Income
Belper
£30,608
Clay Cross
£28,862
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Clay Cross is £215,091, which is 35% less than Belper at £290,909. The most affordable entry point in Belper is a flat at £135,318, while in Clay Cross it is a flat at £98,290.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 63% pricier in Belper (£201,773 vs £123,642).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Belper prices grew faster — 48% vs 5%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsCrime is lower in Clay Cross (52.2 per 1,000) compared to Belper (66.4 per 1,000), a 27% difference. The most common crime category in Belper is violent-crime, while in Clay Cross 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 MidlandsClay Cross has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 75% in Belper. Belper has 6 schools in total, while Clay Cross has 2.
Belper School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Clay Cross School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Belper | Clay Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 2 |
| Primary | 5 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Belper offers faster average downloads at 339.1 Mbps, compared to 311.8 Mbps in Clay Cross. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.3% of premises in Belper and 86.5% in Clay Cross. Gigabit availability stands at 60.7% in Belper and 57.2% in Clay Cross.
Belper is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (339 vs 312 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Clay Cross are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.2 (band C) versus 67.8 (band C) in Belper. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,332 in Belper and £1,042 in Clay Cross. 50.8% of homes in Belper have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.2% in Clay Cross.
Clay Cross has more energy-efficient housing — 63.2% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,607.7 in Belper and £28,862 in Clay Cross. The median age is 47.1 in Belper and 45.8 in Clay Cross. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Belper and 56% in Clay Cross. Owner-occupancy is 71.3% in Belper versus 68.2% in Clay Cross.
| Indicator | Belper | Clay Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,076 | 8,915 |
| Median Age | 47.1 | 45.8 |
| Median Household Income | £30,607.7 | £28,862 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.3% | 68.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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