Bilsthorpe vs Forest Town
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Forest Town offers lower property prices by roughly 9%. Bilsthorpe has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bilsthorpe edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bilsthorpe
£257,598
Forest Town
£235,607
Crime Rate
Bilsthorpe
67.6
Forest Town
92.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bilsthorpe
100.0%
Forest Town
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bilsthorpe
263.2
Forest Town
440.8
EPC Rating
Bilsthorpe
71.1
Forest Town
70.4
Median Income
Bilsthorpe
£28,928
Forest Town
£27,804
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsBuyers will find Forest Town more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £235,607 versus £257,598 in Bilsthorpe. The most affordable entry point in Bilsthorpe is a flat at £78,000, while in Forest Town it is a flat at £61,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 28% pricier in Bilsthorpe (£78,000 vs £61,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Forest Town prices grew faster — 63% vs 62%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 67.6 offences per 1,000 people, Bilsthorpe is the safer of the two – 36% lower than Forest Town's 92 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bilsthorpe is violent-crime, while in Forest Town 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 Bilsthorpe: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 87.5% in Forest Town.
Bilsthorpe School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Forest Town School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bilsthorpe | Forest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 8 |
| Primary | 1 | 7 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Forest Town enjoy 440.8 Mbps on average, while Bilsthorpe lags behind at 263.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 87.7% of premises in Bilsthorpe and 98% in Forest Town. Gigabit availability stands at 45.5% in Bilsthorpe and 85.3% in Forest Town.
Forest Town is the faster of the two by 67% on average download speed (441 vs 263 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bilsthorpe is band C (score 71.1), ahead of Forest Town's band C (score 70.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,264 in Bilsthorpe and £1,086 in Forest Town. 62.4% of homes in Bilsthorpe have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.8% in Forest Town.
Bilsthorpe has more energy-efficient housing — 62.4% reach band C or above, vs 61.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bilsthorpe has a population of 3,490 while Forest Town has 19,015. Median household income is £28,928 in Bilsthorpe and £27,804.2 in Forest Town. The median age is 45.7 in Bilsthorpe and 44.3 in Forest Town. Employment rates stand at 56.2% in Bilsthorpe and 56.8% in Forest Town.
| Indicator | Bilsthorpe | Forest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,490 | 19,015 |
| Median Age | 45.7 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,928 | £27,804.2 |
| Employment Rate | 56.2% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 66.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.2% | 23.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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Is Bilsthorpe or Forest Town safer?
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