Town comparison
Boston Spa vs Knaresborough
Which is better to live in? 8.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Knaresborough offers lower property prices by roughly 21%. Knaresborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Knaresborough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Boston Spa
£472,529
Knaresborough
£391,262
Crime Rate
Boston Spa
116.2
Knaresborough
47.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Boston Spa
75.0%
Knaresborough
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Boston Spa
410.7
Knaresborough
439.4
EPC Rating
Boston Spa
71.4
Knaresborough
70.3
Median Income
Boston Spa
£31,465
Knaresborough
£29,895
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberThe average house price in Knaresborough is £391,262, which is 21% less than Boston Spa at £472,529. The most affordable entry point in Boston Spa is a flat at £189,793, while in Knaresborough it is a flat at £145,194.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 31% pricier in Boston Spa (£189,793 vs £145,194).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Boston Spa prices grew faster — 27% vs 17%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberCrime is lower in Knaresborough (47.6 per 1,000) compared to Boston Spa (116.2 per 1,000), a 144% difference. The most common crime category in Boston Spa is violent-crime, while in Knaresborough 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 HumberKnaresborough has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 75% in Boston Spa. Boston Spa has 5 schools in total, while Knaresborough has 5.
Boston Spa School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Knaresborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Boston Spa | Knaresborough |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 5 |
| Primary | 4 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Knaresborough offers faster average downloads at 439.4 Mbps, compared to 410.7 Mbps in Boston Spa. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 89.5% of premises in Boston Spa and 93.7% in Knaresborough. Gigabit availability stands at 80.5% in Boston Spa and 86.5% in Knaresborough.
Knaresborough is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (439 vs 411 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Boston Spa are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.3 (band C) in Knaresborough. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,138 in Boston Spa and £1,432 in Knaresborough. 65.3% of homes in Boston Spa have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.5% in Knaresborough.
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 Knaresborough. The median age is 40.1 in Boston Spa and 48.1 in Knaresborough. Employment rates stand at 56.8% in Boston Spa and 56.9% in Knaresborough. Owner-occupancy is 57% in Boston Spa versus 68.4% in Knaresborough.
| Indicator | Boston Spa | Knaresborough |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,358 | 15,781 |
| 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 Knaresborough?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Boston Spa or Knaresborough?
Is Boston Spa or Knaresborough safer?
Which has better schools, Boston Spa or Knaresborough?
Which has faster broadband, Boston Spa or Knaresborough?
Keep exploring