Town comparison
Boston Spa vs Harrogate
Which is better to live in? 9.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Harrogate is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 7% lower. Harrogate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harrogate edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Boston Spa
£472,529
Harrogate
£442,634
Crime Rate
Boston Spa
116.2
Harrogate
47.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Boston Spa
75.0%
Harrogate
94.4%
Avg Download Speed
Boston Spa
410.7
Harrogate
478.3
EPC Rating
Boston Spa
71.4
Harrogate
70.3
Median Income
Boston Spa
£31,465
Harrogate
£29,895
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberAt £442,634, Harrogate undercuts Boston Spa (£472,529) by around 7% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Boston Spa is a flat at £189,793, while in Harrogate it is a flat at £286,061.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 34% pricier in Harrogate (£286,061 vs £189,793).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harrogate prices grew faster — 28% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberHarrogate has a crime rate of 47.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 145% lower than Boston Spa at 116.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Boston Spa is violent-crime, while in Harrogate 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 Yorkshire and the HumberOf the 5 schools in Boston Spa, 75% are in the top two inspection bands. In Harrogate, which has 22 schools, the figure is 94.4%.
Boston Spa School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Harrogate School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 22 schools (17 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Boston Spa | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 22 |
| Primary | 4 | 17 |
| Secondary | 1 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 94.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Harrogate averages 478.3 Mbps – ahead of Boston Spa's 410.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 89.5% of premises in Boston Spa and 97.7% in Harrogate. Gigabit availability stands at 80.5% in Boston Spa and 94% in Harrogate.
Harrogate is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (478 vs 411 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Boston Spa leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.4 (C), while Harrogate averages 70.3 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,138 in Boston Spa and £1,432 in Harrogate. 65.3% of homes in Boston Spa have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.5% in Harrogate.
Boston Spa has more energy-efficient housing — 65.3% reach band C or above, vs 59.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,465 in Boston Spa and £29,895 in Harrogate. The median age is 40.1 in Boston Spa and 48.1 in Harrogate. Owner-occupancy is 57% in Boston Spa versus 68.4% in Harrogate. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Boston Spa and 56.9% in Harrogate.
| Indicator | Boston Spa | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,358 | 75,522 |
| Median Age | 40.1 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £31,465 | £29,895 |
| Employment Rate | 56.8% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 57% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.7% | 34.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Boston Spa and Harrogate?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Boston Spa or Harrogate?
Is Boston Spa or Harrogate safer?
Which has better schools, Boston Spa or Harrogate?
Which has faster broadband, Boston Spa or Harrogate?
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