Town comparison
Blackpool vs Garstang
Which is better to live in? 12.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Blackpool offers lower property prices by roughly 45%. Garstang has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Garstang edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Blackpool
£151,166
Garstang
£275,419
Crime Rate
Blackpool
148.7
Garstang
58.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Blackpool
87.9%
Garstang
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Blackpool
344.3
Garstang
374.9
EPC Rating
Blackpool
68.4
Garstang
70.5
Median Income
Blackpool
£26,705
Garstang
£30,904
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Blackpool more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £151,166 versus £275,419 in Garstang. The most affordable entry point in Blackpool is a flat at £85,219, while in Garstang it is a flat at £146,658.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 49% pricier in Garstang (£231,042 vs £116,892).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Garstang prices grew faster — 23% vs 19%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 58.6 offences per 1,000 people, Garstang is the safer of the two – 154% lower than Blackpool's 148.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Blackpool is violent-crime, while in Garstang 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 North WestSchool quality favours Garstang: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 87.9% in Blackpool.
Blackpool School Inspection Breakdown
87.9% of 38 schools (30 primary, 8 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Garstang School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Blackpool | Garstang |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 38 | 2 |
| Primary | 30 | 2 |
| Secondary | 8 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 87.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Garstang enjoy 374.9 Mbps on average, while Blackpool lags behind at 344.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.7% of premises in Blackpool and 92.2% in Garstang. Gigabit availability stands at 62.7% in Blackpool and 71.1% in Garstang.
Garstang is the faster of the two by 9% on average download speed (375 vs 344 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Garstang is band C (score 70.5), ahead of Blackpool's band C (score 68.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,178 in Blackpool and £1,255 in Garstang. 58.5% of homes in Blackpool have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60% in Garstang.
Garstang has more energy-efficient housing — 60% reach band C or above, vs 58.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Blackpool has a population of 149,087 while Garstang has 5,804. Median household income is £30,904 in Garstang and £26,705 in Blackpool. The median age is 44.7 in Blackpool and 46.2 in Garstang. Employment rates stand at 51% in Blackpool and 53.9% in Garstang.
| Indicator | Blackpool | Garstang |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 149,087 | 5,804 |
| Median Age | 44.7 | 46.2 |
| Median Household Income | £26,705 | £30,904 |
| Employment Rate | 51% | 53.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 57.5% | 69.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 22.5% | 33.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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