Town comparison
Desborough vs Irthlingborough
Which is better to live in? 11.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Irthlingborough wins on house prices with a 16% gap. Desborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Desborough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Desborough
£278,485
Irthlingborough
£239,943
Crime Rate
Desborough
75.3
Irthlingborough
98.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desborough
100.0%
Irthlingborough
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Desborough
380.2
Irthlingborough
451
EPC Rating
Desborough
73.5
Irthlingborough
73.5
Median Income
Desborough
£31,402
Irthlingborough
£31,402
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Desborough commands an average of £278,485, compared with £239,943 in Irthlingborough – a difference of 16%. The most affordable entry point in Desborough is a flat at £115,667, while in Irthlingborough it is a flat at £101,469.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 14% pricier in Desborough (£115,667 vs £101,469).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Desborough prices grew faster — 26% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsResidents of Desborough experience less crime overall, with a rate of 75.3 per 1,000 versus 98.6 per 1,000 in Irthlingborough. The most common crime category in Desborough is violent-crime, while in Irthlingborough 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 Irthlingborough. There are 3 schools in Desborough and 3 in Irthlingborough.
Desborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Irthlingborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desborough | Irthlingborough |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 3 |
| Primary | 3 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 451.0 Mbps in Irthlingborough and 380.2 Mbps in Desborough. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Desborough and 95.4% in Irthlingborough. Gigabit availability stands at 72.3% in Desborough and 88.8% in Irthlingborough.
Irthlingborough 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 73.5 (band C) in Irthlingborough. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Desborough and £1,082 in Irthlingborough. 71.3% of homes in Desborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Irthlingborough.
Desborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 71.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,402 in Desborough and £31,402 in Irthlingborough. The median age is 42.4 in Desborough and 42.4 in Irthlingborough. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Desborough and 61.8% in Irthlingborough. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Desborough versus 65% in Irthlingborough. Desborough has a population of 11,899 and Irthlingborough has 9,308.
| Indicator | Desborough | Irthlingborough |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,899 | 9,308 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £31,402 | £31,402 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 61.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 65% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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