Desborough vs Higham Ferrers
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Desborough is about 11% cheaper on average. Desborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Desborough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Desborough
£278,485
Higham Ferrers
£311,873
Crime Rate
Desborough
75.3
Higham Ferrers
75.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desborough
100.0%
Higham Ferrers
50.0%
Avg Download Speed
Desborough
380.2
Higham Ferrers
486
EPC Rating
Desborough
73.5
Higham Ferrers
72.5
Median Income
Desborough
£31,402
Higham Ferrers
£32,409
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsBuyers will find Desborough more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £278,485 versus £311,873 in Higham Ferrers. The most affordable entry point in Desborough is a flat at £115,667, while in Higham Ferrers it is a flat at £169,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Higham Ferrers (£169,000 vs £115,667).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Higham Ferrers prices grew faster — 47% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsCrime is lower in Desborough (75.3 per 1,000) compared to Higham Ferrers (75.4 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Desborough is violent-crime, while in Higham Ferrers 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 MidlandsSchool quality favours Desborough: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 50% in Higham Ferrers.
Desborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Higham Ferrers School Inspection Breakdown
50% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desborough | Higham Ferrers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 4 |
| Primary | 3 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 50% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Higham Ferrers enjoy 486.0 Mbps on average, while Desborough lags behind at 380.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Desborough and 98.8% in Higham Ferrers. Gigabit availability stands at 72.3% in Desborough and 96.6% in Higham Ferrers.
Higham Ferrers is the faster of the two by 28% on average download speed (486 vs 380 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Desborough is band C (score 73.5), ahead of Higham Ferrers's band C (score 72.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Desborough and £1,096 in Higham Ferrers. 71.3% of homes in Desborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.9% in Higham Ferrers.
Desborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 69.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Desborough has a population of 11,899 while Higham Ferrers has 8,825. Median household income is £32,409 in Higham Ferrers and £31,402 in Desborough. The median age is 42.4 in Desborough and 42 in Higham Ferrers. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Desborough and 61.5% in Higham Ferrers.
| Indicator | Desborough | Higham Ferrers |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,899 | 8,825 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42 |
| Median Household Income | £31,402 | £32,409 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 61.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 63.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Desborough and Higham Ferrers?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Desborough or Higham Ferrers?
Is Desborough or Higham Ferrers safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Desborough or Higham Ferrers?
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