Bolsover vs Forest Town
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Bolsover is about 13% cheaper on average. Forest Town has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bolsover edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bolsover
£205,178
Forest Town
£235,607
Crime Rate
Bolsover
94.5
Forest Town
92.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bolsover
100.0%
Forest Town
87.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bolsover
368.8
Forest Town
440.8
EPC Rating
Bolsover
70
Forest Town
70.4
Median Income
Bolsover
£28,787
Forest Town
£27,804
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Bolsover is £205,178, which is 13% less than Forest Town at £235,607. The most affordable entry point in Bolsover is a flat at £106,975, while in Forest Town it is a flat at £61,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 75% pricier in Bolsover (£106,975 vs £61,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bolsover prices grew faster — 67% vs 63%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 92 offences per 1,000 people, Forest Town is the safer of the two – 3% lower than Bolsover's 94.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bolsover is violent-crime, while in Forest Town 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 MidlandsBolsover has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 87.5% in Forest Town. Bolsover has 4 schools in total, while Forest Town has 8.
Bolsover School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Forest Town School Inspection Breakdown
87.5% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bolsover | Forest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 8 |
| Primary | 3 | 7 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 87.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Forest Town offers faster average downloads at 440.8 Mbps, compared to 368.8 Mbps in Bolsover. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.2% of premises in Bolsover and 98% in Forest Town. Gigabit availability stands at 69.8% in Bolsover and 85.3% in Forest Town.
Forest Town is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (441 vs 369 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Forest Town are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.4 (band C) versus 70 (band C) in Bolsover. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,079 in Bolsover and £1,086 in Forest Town. 60.4% of homes in Bolsover have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.8% in Forest Town.
Forest Town has more energy-efficient housing — 61.8% reach band C or above, vs 60.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,786.7 in Bolsover and £27,804.2 in Forest Town. The median age is 45.7 in Bolsover and 44.3 in Forest Town. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Bolsover and 56.8% in Forest Town. Owner-occupancy is 66.4% in Bolsover versus 66.6% in Forest Town.
| Indicator | Bolsover | Forest Town |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,228 | 19,015 |
| Median Age | 45.7 | 44.3 |
| Median Household Income | £28,786.7 | £27,804.2 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.4% | 66.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25.4% | 23.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bolsover and Forest Town?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bolsover or Forest Town?
Is Bolsover or Forest Town safer?
Which has better schools, Bolsover or Forest Town?
Which has faster broadband, Bolsover or Forest Town?
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