Carleton vs Cottam (Preston)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Carleton offers lower property prices by roughly 5%. Carleton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Carleton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Carleton
£272,429
Cottam (Preston)
£285,843
Crime Rate
Carleton
58.8
Cottam (Preston)
96.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Carleton
100.0%
Cottam (Preston)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Carleton
456
Cottam (Preston)
326
EPC Rating
Carleton
70.5
Cottam (Preston)
71.8
Median Income
Carleton
£30,188
Cottam (Preston)
£31,406
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Carleton is £272,429, which is 5% less than Cottam (preston) at £285,843. The most affordable entry point in Carleton is a flat at £182,375, while in Cottam (preston) it is a flat at £99,130.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 84% pricier in Carleton (£182,375 vs £99,130).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cottam (preston) prices grew faster — 11% vs 8%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Carleton (58.8 per 1,000) compared to Cottam (preston) (96.8 per 1,000), a 65% difference. The most common crime category in Carleton is violent-crime, while in Cottam (preston) 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 WestCarleton has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Cottam (preston). Carleton has 2 schools in total, while Cottam (preston) has 2.
Carleton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cottam (Preston) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Carleton | Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Carleton offers faster average downloads at 456.0 Mbps, compared to 326.0 Mbps in Cottam (preston). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.2% of premises in Carleton and 91.4% in Cottam (preston). Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Carleton and 58.7% in Cottam (preston).
Carleton is the faster of the two by 40% on average download speed (456 vs 326 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cottam (preston) are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 70.5 (band C) in Carleton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,211 in Carleton and £1,166 in Cottam (preston). 60.2% of homes in Carleton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.9% in Cottam (preston).
Cottam (preston) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.9% reach band C or above, vs 60.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,406.2 in Cottam (preston) and £30,188 in Carleton. The median age is 48.2 in Carleton and 45.6 in Cottam (preston). Employment rates stand at 51.1% in Carleton and 55.4% in Cottam (preston). Owner-occupancy is 67.5% in Carleton versus 70.3% in Cottam (preston).
| Indicator | Carleton | Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,793 | 5,507 |
| Median Age | 48.2 | 45.6 |
| Median Household Income | £30,188 | £31,406.2 |
| Employment Rate | 51.1% | 55.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.5% | 70.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.4% | 31.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Carleton and Cottam (preston)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Carleton or Cottam (preston)?
Is Carleton or Cottam (preston) safer?
Which has better schools, Carleton or Cottam (preston)?
Which has faster broadband, Carleton or Cottam (preston)?
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