Birstall vs Desford
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Birstall offers lower property prices by roughly 21%. Desford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birstall edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birstall
£260,306
Desford
£330,177
Crime Rate
Birstall
68.0
Desford
53.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birstall
100.0%
Desford
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birstall
486.2
Desford
292.2
EPC Rating
Birstall
70.4
Desford
71
Median Income
Birstall
£30,112
Desford
£31,173
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Birstall is £260,306, which is 21% less than Desford at £330,177. The most affordable entry point in Birstall is a flat at £166,694, while in Desford it is a flat at £109,125.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 53% pricier in Birstall (£166,694 vs £109,125).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birstall prices grew faster — 39% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 53.2 offences per 1,000 people, Desford is the safer of the two – 28% lower than Birstall's 68 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birstall is violent-crime, while in Desford 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 MidlandsBirstall has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Desford. Birstall has 4 schools in total, while Desford has 2.
Birstall School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Desford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birstall | Desford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Birstall offers faster average downloads at 486.2 Mbps, compared to 292.2 Mbps in Desford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.1% of premises in Birstall and 95.6% in Desford. Gigabit availability stands at 96.8% in Birstall and 48.5% in Desford.
Birstall is the faster of the two by 66% on average download speed (486 vs 292 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Desford are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71 (band C) versus 70.4 (band C) in Birstall. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,102 in Birstall and £1,245 in Desford. 62.4% of homes in Birstall have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.5% in Desford.
Birstall has more energy-efficient housing — 62.4% reach band C or above, vs 61.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,172.7 in Desford and £30,111.7 in Birstall. The median age is 41.2 in Birstall and 45.2 in Desford. Employment rates stand at 56.7% in Birstall and 60.5% in Desford. Owner-occupancy is 64.8% in Birstall versus 76% in Desford.
| Indicator | Birstall | Desford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,960 | 3,817 |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 45.2 |
| Median Household Income | £30,111.7 | £31,172.7 |
| Employment Rate | 56.7% | 60.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.8% | 76% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30% | 32.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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