Desborough vs Irchester
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Desborough wins on house prices with a 2% gap. Desborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Desborough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Desborough
£278,485
Irchester
£285,422
Crime Rate
Desborough
75.3
Irchester
75.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desborough
100.0%
Irchester
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Desborough
380.2
Irchester
451.3
EPC Rating
Desborough
73.5
Irchester
72.5
Median Income
Desborough
£31,402
Irchester
£32,409
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Irchester commands an average of £285,422, compared with £278,485 in Desborough – a difference of 2%. The most affordable entry point in Desborough is a flat at £115,667, while in Irchester it is a flat at £125,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 12% pricier in Irchester (£220,007 vs £193,903).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Irchester prices grew faster — 65% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Desborough experience less crime overall, with a rate of 75.3 per 1,000 versus 75.5 per 1,000 in Irchester. The most common crime category in Desborough is violent-crime, while in Irchester 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Desborough, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Irchester. There are 3 schools in Desborough and 1 in Irchester.
Desborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Irchester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desborough | Irchester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 3 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 451.3 Mbps in Irchester and 380.2 Mbps in Desborough. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Desborough and 96.9% in Irchester. Gigabit availability stands at 72.3% in Desborough and 88.6% in Irchester.
Irchester is the faster of the two by 19% on average download speed (451 vs 380 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Desborough, scoring 73.5 on average (band C) compared to 72.5 (band C) in Irchester. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Desborough and £1,096 in Irchester. 71.3% of homes in Desborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.9% in Irchester.
Desborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 69.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,409 in Irchester and £31,402 in Desborough. The median age is 42.4 in Desborough and 42 in Irchester. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Desborough and 61.5% in Irchester. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Desborough versus 63.9% in Irchester. Desborough has a population of 11,899 and Irchester has 4,543.
| Indicator | Desborough | Irchester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,899 | 4,543 |
| 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 Irchester?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Desborough or Irchester?
Is Desborough or Irchester safer?
Which has better schools, Desborough or Irchester?
Which has faster broadband, Desborough or Irchester?
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