Town comparison
Desborough vs Great Glen
Which is better to live in? 12.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Desborough is about 22% cheaper on average. Great Glen has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Desborough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Desborough
£278,485
Great Glen
£354,827
Crime Rate
Desborough
75.3
Great Glen
44.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desborough
100.0%
Great Glen
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Desborough
380.2
Great Glen
327.3
EPC Rating
Desborough
73.5
Great Glen
70.5
Median Income
Desborough
£31,402
Great Glen
£31,042
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Desborough is £278,485, which is 22% less than Great Glen at £354,827. The most affordable entry point in Desborough is a flat at £115,667, while in Great Glen it is a flat at £155,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 26% pricier in Great Glen (£471,714 vs £349,645).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Desborough prices grew faster — 26% vs 23%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 44.3 offences per 1,000 people, Great Glen is the safer of the two – 70% lower than Desborough's 75.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Desborough is violent-crime, while in Great Glen 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 MidlandsDesborough has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Great Glen. Desborough has 3 schools in total, while Great Glen has 1.
Desborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Great Glen School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desborough | Great Glen |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Desborough offers faster average downloads at 380.2 Mbps, compared to 327.3 Mbps in Great Glen. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Desborough and 94.5% in Great Glen. Gigabit availability stands at 72.3% in Desborough and 57.2% in Great Glen.
Desborough is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (380 vs 327 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Desborough are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.5 (band C) versus 70.5 (band C) in Great Glen. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Desborough and £1,246 in Great Glen. 71.3% of homes in Desborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.9% in Great Glen.
Desborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,402 in Desborough and £31,041.7 in Great Glen. The median age is 42.4 in Desborough and 45 in Great Glen. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Desborough and 59% in Great Glen. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Desborough versus 76.3% in Great Glen.
| Indicator | Desborough | Great Glen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,899 | 4,062 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 45 |
| Median Household Income | £31,402 | £31,041.7 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 59% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 76.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 33.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Desborough and Great Glen?
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