Blackrod vs Rawtenstall
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Blackrod wins on house prices with a 12% gap. Rawtenstall has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blackrod edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Blackrod
£218,151
Rawtenstall
£246,862
Crime Rate
Blackrod
98.7
Rawtenstall
64.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Blackrod
100.0%
Rawtenstall
70.0%
Avg Download Speed
Blackrod
430.5
Rawtenstall
381.6
EPC Rating
Blackrod
72.2
Rawtenstall
69.3
Median Income
Blackrod
£30,334
Rawtenstall
£30,420
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £218,151, Blackrod undercuts Rawtenstall (£246,862) by around 12% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Blackrod is a flat at £132,500, while in Rawtenstall it is a flat at £149,086.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 24% pricier in Rawtenstall (£432,836 vs £329,077).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Rawtenstall prices grew faster — 56% vs 47%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Rawtenstall experience less crime overall, with a rate of 64.2 per 1,000 versus 98.7 per 1,000 in Blackrod. The most common crime category in Blackrod 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.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in North WestOf the 2 schools in Blackrod, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Rawtenstall, which has 13 schools, the figure is 70%.
Blackrod School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) 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.
| Metric | Blackrod | Rawtenstall |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 13 |
| Primary | 2 | 9 |
| Secondary | 0 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 70% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Blackrod averages 430.5 Mbps – ahead of Rawtenstall's 381.6 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.3% of premises in Blackrod and 93.5% in Rawtenstall. Gigabit availability stands at 83.4% in Blackrod and 71.1% in Rawtenstall.
Blackrod is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (431 vs 382 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Blackrod, scoring 72.2 on average (band C) compared to 69.3 (band C) in Rawtenstall. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,110 in Blackrod and £1,398 in Rawtenstall. 69.6% of homes in Blackrod have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.9% in Rawtenstall.
Blackrod has more energy-efficient housing — 69.6% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,420 in Rawtenstall and £30,333.5 in Blackrod. The median age is 42.5 in Blackrod and 43.3 in Rawtenstall. Employment rates stand at 56.7% in Blackrod and 57.8% in Rawtenstall. Owner-occupancy is 66.8% in Blackrod versus 67.9% in Rawtenstall. Blackrod has a population of 5,340 and Rawtenstall has 23,381.
| Indicator | Blackrod | Rawtenstall |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,340 | 23,381 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 43.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,333.5 | £30,420 |
| Employment Rate | 56.7% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.8% | 67.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.6% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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