Town comparison
Desborough vs Long Buckby
Which is better to live in? 14.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Desborough is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 16% lower. Desborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Desborough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Desborough
£278,485
Long Buckby
£332,933
Crime Rate
Desborough
75.3
Long Buckby
97.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desborough
100.0%
Long Buckby
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Desborough
380.2
Long Buckby
427.6
EPC Rating
Desborough
73.5
Long Buckby
72.6
Median Income
Desborough
£31,402
Long Buckby
£31,852
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsAt £278,485, Desborough undercuts Long Buckby (£332,933) by around 16% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Desborough is a flat at £115,667, while in Long Buckby it is a flat at £136,667.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 17% pricier in Long Buckby (£422,905 vs £349,645).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Long Buckby prices grew faster — 27% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsDesborough has a crime rate of 75.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 30% lower than Long Buckby at 97.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Desborough is violent-crime, while in Long Buckby 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 MidlandsOf the 3 schools in Desborough, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Long Buckby, which has 2 schools, the figure is 100%.
Desborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Long Buckby School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desborough | Long Buckby |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Long Buckby averages 427.6 Mbps – ahead of Desborough's 380.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Desborough and 89.2% in Long Buckby. Gigabit availability stands at 72.3% in Desborough and 84.1% in Long Buckby.
Long Buckby is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (428 vs 380 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Desborough, scoring 73.5 on average (band C) compared to 72.6 (band C) in Long Buckby. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Desborough and £1,188 in Long Buckby. 71.3% of homes in Desborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.9% in Long Buckby.
Desborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 67.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,851.7 in Long Buckby and £31,402 in Desborough. The median age is 42.4 in Desborough and 43.3 in Long Buckby. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Desborough and 61.8% in Long Buckby. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Desborough versus 68.5% in Long Buckby. Desborough has a population of 11,899 and Long Buckby has 3,821.
| Indicator | Desborough | Long Buckby |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,899 | 3,821 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 43.3 |
| Median Household Income | £31,402 | £31,851.7 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 61.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 68.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 32.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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