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Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) vs Rawtenstall

Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.9 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 8% gap. Rawtenstall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

£228,340

Rawtenstall

£246,862

Crime Rate

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

84.2

Rawtenstall

64.2

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

97.7%

Rawtenstall

70.0%

Avg Download Speed

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

398.1

Rawtenstall

381.6

EPC Rating

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

71.8

Rawtenstall

69.3

Median Income

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)

£30,947

Rawtenstall

£30,420

Property in Rawtenstall commands an average of £246,862, compared with £228,340 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) – a difference of 8%. The most affordable entry point in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is a flat at £101,069, while in Rawtenstall it is a flat at £149,086.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Rawtenstall (£149,086 vs £101,069).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Rawtenstall prices grew faster — 56% vs 30%.

Residents of Rawtenstall experience less crime overall, with a rate of 64.2 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 Rawtenstall 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 Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen), where 97.7% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 70% in Rawtenstall. There are 52 schools in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 13 in Rawtenstall.

Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen) School Inspection Breakdown

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

Rawtenstall School Inspection Breakdown

70% of 13 schools (9 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

MetricBlackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)Rawtenstall
Total Schools5213
Primary439
Secondary94
% Top two bands97.7%70%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 398.1 Mbps in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 381.6 Mbps in Rawtenstall. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.5% of premises in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 93.5% in Rawtenstall. Gigabit availability stands at 76.3% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 71.1% in Rawtenstall.

Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (398 vs 382 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.8 (C), while Rawtenstall averages 69.3 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and £1,398 in Rawtenstall. 65.9% of homes in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.9% in Rawtenstall.

Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.9% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £30,947.2 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and £30,420 in Rawtenstall. The median age is 44 in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 43.3 in Rawtenstall. Owner-occupancy is 71% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) versus 67.9% in Rawtenstall. Employment rates stand at 57.9% in Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and 57.8% in Rawtenstall.

IndicatorBlackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)Rawtenstall
Population124,95823,381
Median Age4443.3
Median Household Income£30,947.2£30,420
Employment Rate57.9%57.8%
Owner Occupied71%67.9%
Degree-Level Qualified33.1%30.7%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and Rawtenstall?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) and Rawtenstall are approximately 8.9 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Rawtenstall?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) is cheaper, with an average house price of £228,340.
Is Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Rawtenstall safer?
Rawtenstall has the lower crime rate at 64.2 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Rawtenstall?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 97.7%.
Which has faster broadband, Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) or Rawtenstall?
Blackburn (blackburn With Darwen) has faster average broadband at 398.1 Mbps.

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