Belper vs Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Belper is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Melbourne (south Derbyshire) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Melbourne (south Derbyshire) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Belper
£290,909
Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
£352,966
Crime Rate
Belper
66.4
Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
52.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Belper
75.0%
Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Belper
339.1
Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
463
EPC Rating
Belper
67.8
Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
71.6
Median Income
Belper
£30,608
Melbourne (South Derbyshire)
£32,236
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Melbourne (south Derbyshire) commands an average of £352,966, compared with £290,909 in Belper – a difference of 18%. The most affordable entry point in Belper is a flat at £135,318, while in Melbourne (south Derbyshire) it is a flat at £198,750.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Melbourne (south Derbyshire) (£198,750 vs £135,318).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Belper prices grew faster — 48% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsMelbourne (south Derbyshire) has a crime rate of 52.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 26% lower than Belper at 66.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Belper is violent-crime, while in Melbourne (south Derbyshire) 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Melbourne (south Derbyshire), where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 75% in Belper. There are 6 schools in Belper and 2 in Melbourne (south Derbyshire).
Belper School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Melbourne (South Derbyshire) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Belper | Melbourne (South Derbyshire) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 2 |
| Primary | 5 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 463.0 Mbps in Melbourne (south Derbyshire) and 339.1 Mbps in Belper. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.3% of premises in Belper and 97% in Melbourne (south Derbyshire). Gigabit availability stands at 60.7% in Belper and 91.5% in Melbourne (south Derbyshire).
Melbourne (south Derbyshire) is the faster of the two by 37% on average download speed (463 vs 339 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Melbourne (south Derbyshire) leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.6 (C), while Belper averages 67.8 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,332 in Belper and £1,142 in Melbourne (south Derbyshire). 50.8% of homes in Belper have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.4% in Melbourne (south Derbyshire).
Melbourne (south Derbyshire) has more energy-efficient housing — 64.4% reach band C or above, vs 50.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,236.3 in Melbourne (south Derbyshire) and £30,607.7 in Belper. The median age is 47.1 in Belper and 42.5 in Melbourne (south Derbyshire). Owner-occupancy is 71.3% in Belper versus 68.4% in Melbourne (south Derbyshire). Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Belper and 59.3% in Melbourne (south Derbyshire).
| Indicator | Belper | Melbourne (South Derbyshire) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,076 | 4,860 |
| Median Age | 47.1 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,607.7 | £32,236.3 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 59.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.3% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.3% | 30.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Belper and Melbourne (south Derbyshire)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Belper or Melbourne (south Derbyshire)?
Is Belper or Melbourne (south Derbyshire) safer?
Which has better schools, Belper or Melbourne (south Derbyshire)?
Which has faster broadband, Belper or Melbourne (south Derbyshire)?
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