Town comparison
Bradford vs Leeds (Leeds)
Which is better to live in? 8.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Bradford wins on house prices with a 42% gap. Leeds (leeds) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Leeds (leeds) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bradford
£170,910
Leeds (Leeds)
£295,114
Crime Rate
Bradford
119.6
Leeds (Leeds)
116.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bradford
92.0%
Leeds (Leeds)
94.4%
Avg Download Speed
Bradford
350.4
Leeds (Leeds)
470.5
EPC Rating
Bradford
69.2
Leeds (Leeds)
71.4
Median Income
Bradford
£27,514
Leeds (Leeds)
£31,465
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberAt £170,910, Bradford undercuts Leeds (leeds) (£295,114) by around 42% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bradford is a flat at £94,628, while in Leeds (leeds) it is a flat at £172,596.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 45% pricier in Leeds (leeds) (£172,596 vs £94,628).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bradford prices grew faster — 41% vs 32%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberResidents of Leeds (leeds) experience less crime overall, with a rate of 116.1 per 1,000 versus 119.6 per 1,000 in Bradford. The most common crime category in Bradford is violent-crime, while in Leeds (leeds) 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 122 schools in Bradford, 92% are in the top two inspection bands. In Leeds (leeds), which has 165 schools, the figure is 94.4%.
Bradford School Inspection Breakdown
92% of 122 schools (97 primary, 25 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Leeds (Leeds) School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 165 schools (136 primary, 29 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bradford | Leeds (Leeds) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 122 | 165 |
| Primary | 97 | 136 |
| Secondary | 25 | 29 |
| % Top two bands | 92% | 94.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Leeds (leeds) averages 470.5 Mbps – ahead of Bradford's 350.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 80.1% of premises in Bradford and 98.3% in Leeds (leeds). Gigabit availability stands at 67.1% in Bradford and 92.5% in Leeds (leeds).
Leeds (leeds) is the faster of the two by 34% on average download speed (471 vs 350 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Leeds (leeds), scoring 71.4 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Bradford. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,161 in Bradford and £1,138 in Leeds (leeds). 59.2% of homes in Bradford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.3% in Leeds (leeds).
Leeds (leeds) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.3% reach band C or above, vs 59.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,465 in Leeds (leeds) and £27,514 in Bradford. The median age is 39.2 in Bradford and 40.1 in Leeds (leeds). Employment rates stand at 52.5% in Bradford and 56.8% in Leeds (leeds). Owner-occupancy is 61.7% in Bradford versus 57% in Leeds (leeds). Bradford has a population of 333,968 and Leeds (leeds) has 536,262.
| Indicator | Bradford | Leeds (Leeds) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 333,968 | 536,262 |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 40.1 |
| Median Household Income | £27,514 | £31,465 |
| Employment Rate | 52.5% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.7% | 57% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 34.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bradford and Leeds (leeds)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bradford or Leeds (leeds)?
Is Bradford or Leeds (leeds) safer?
Which has better schools, Bradford or Leeds (leeds)?
Which has faster broadband, Bradford or Leeds (leeds)?
Keep exploring