Town comparison
Belper vs Derby
Which is better to live in? 7.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Derby is about 11% cheaper on average. Belper has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Derby edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Belper
£290,909
Derby
£262,742
Crime Rate
Belper
66.4
Derby
109.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Belper
75.0%
Derby
91.6%
Avg Download Speed
Belper
339.1
Derby
496
EPC Rating
Belper
67.8
Derby
71.2
Median Income
Belper
£30,608
Derby
£32,106
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsBuyers will find Derby more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £262,742 versus £290,909 in Belper. The most affordable entry point in Belper is a flat at £135,318, while in Derby it is a flat at £129,279.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 15% pricier in Belper (£201,773 vs £175,057).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Belper prices grew faster — 48% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsCrime is lower in Belper (66.4 per 1,000) compared to Derby (109.4 per 1,000), a 65% difference. The most common crime category in Belper is violent-crime, while in Derby 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 MidlandsSchool quality favours Derby: 91.6% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 75% in Belper.
Belper School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Derby School Inspection Breakdown
91.6% of 93 schools (77 primary, 16 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Belper | Derby |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 93 |
| Primary | 5 | 77 |
| Secondary | 1 | 16 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 91.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Derby enjoy 496.0 Mbps on average, while Belper lags behind at 339.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.3% of premises in Belper and 99.7% in Derby. Gigabit availability stands at 60.7% in Belper and 99.1% in Derby.
Derby is the faster of the two by 46% on average download speed (496 vs 339 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Derby is band C (score 71.2), ahead of Belper's band C (score 67.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,332 in Belper and £1,117 in Derby. 50.8% of homes in Belper have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.3% in Derby.
Derby has more energy-efficient housing — 64.3% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Belper has a population of 19,076 while Derby has 275,561. Median household income is £32,105.5 in Derby and £30,607.7 in Belper. The median age is 47.1 in Belper and 41.8 in Derby. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Belper and 58.8% in Derby.
| Indicator | Belper | Derby |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,076 | 275,561 |
| Median Age | 47.1 | 41.8 |
| Median Household Income | £30,607.7 | £32,105.5 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 58.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.3% | 66.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 30.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Belper and Derby?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Belper or Derby?
Is Belper or Derby safer?
Which has better schools, Belper or Derby?
Which has faster broadband, Belper or Derby?
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