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Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) vs Longton

Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.1 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) wins on house prices with a 39% gap. Longton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Longton edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

£228,340

Longton

£375,545

Crime Rate

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

84.2

Longton

67.4

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

97.7%

Longton

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

398.1

Longton

326

EPC Rating

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

71.8

Longton

71.8

Median Income

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

£30,947

Longton

£31,406

Property in Longton commands an average of £375,545, compared with £228,340 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) – a difference of 39%. The most affordable entry point in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is a flat at £101,069, while in Longton it is a terraced at £175,600.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 40% pricier in Longton (£578,221 vs £346,938).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Longton prices grew faster — 64% vs 30%.

Residents of Longton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 67.4 per 1,000 versus 84.2 per 1,000 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). The most common crime category in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is violent-crime, while in Longton it is violent-crime.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.

Families may prefer Longton, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 97.7% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). There are 52 schools in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 5 in Longton.

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) School Inspection Breakdown

97.7% of 52 schools (43 primary, 9 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Longton School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 5 schools (5 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

MetricBlackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)Longton
Total Schools525
Primary435
Secondary90
% Top two bands97.7%100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 398.1 Mbps in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 326.0 Mbps in Longton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 91.4% in Longton. Gigabit availability stands at 76.3% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 58.7% in Longton.

Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is the faster of the two by 22% on average download speed (398 vs 326 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.8 (C), while Longton averages 71.8 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and £1,166 in Longton. 65.9% of homes in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.9% in Longton.

Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.9% reach band C or above, vs 65.9% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £31,406.2 in Longton and £30,947.2 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen). The median age is 44 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 45.6 in Longton. Owner-occupancy is 71% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) versus 70.3% in Longton. Employment rates stand at 57.9% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 55.4% in Longton.

IndicatorBlackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)Longton
Population124,95810,912
Median Age4445.6
Median Household Income£30,947.2£31,406.2
Employment Rate57.9%55.4%
Owner Occupied71%70.3%
Degree-Level Qualified33.1%31.7%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and Longton?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and Longton are approximately 12.1 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Longton?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is cheaper, with an average house price of £228,340.
Is Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Longton safer?
Longton has the lower crime rate at 67.4 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Longton?
Longton has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.
Which has faster broadband, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Longton?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has faster average broadband at 398.1 Mbps.

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