Town comparison
Desborough vs Northampton
Which is better to live in? 13.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Desborough is about 15% 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
Northampton
£329,344
Crime Rate
Desborough
75.3
Northampton
97.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desborough
100.0%
Northampton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Desborough
380.2
Northampton
477
EPC Rating
Desborough
73.5
Northampton
72.8
Median Income
Desborough
£31,402
Northampton
£31,555
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Desborough is £278,485, which is 15% less than Northampton at £329,344. The most affordable entry point in Desborough is a flat at £115,667, while in Northampton it is a flat at £146,260.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 23% pricier in Northampton (£455,514 vs £349,645).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Northampton prices grew faster — 41% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 75.3 offences per 1,000 people, Desborough is the safer of the two – 29% lower than Northampton's 97.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Desborough is violent-crime, while in Northampton 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 Northampton. Desborough has 3 schools in total, while Northampton has 69.
Desborough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Northampton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 69 schools (57 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desborough | Northampton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 69 |
| Primary | 3 | 57 |
| Secondary | 0 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Northampton offers faster average downloads at 477.0 Mbps, compared to 380.2 Mbps in Desborough. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.5% of premises in Desborough and 99.1% in Northampton. Gigabit availability stands at 72.3% in Desborough and 94.5% in Northampton.
Northampton is the faster of the two by 25% on average download speed (477 vs 380 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Desborough are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.5 (band C) versus 72.8 (band C) in Northampton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,082 in Desborough and £1,121 in Northampton. 71.3% of homes in Desborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.4% in Northampton.
Desborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 68.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,554.5 in Northampton and £31,402 in Desborough. The median age is 42.4 in Desborough and 42 in Northampton. Employment rates stand at 61.8% in Desborough and 62.3% in Northampton. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Desborough versus 64.9% in Northampton.
| Indicator | Desborough | Northampton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,899 | 243,883 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42 |
| Median Household Income | £31,402 | £31,554.5 |
| Employment Rate | 61.8% | 62.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 64.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 29.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Desborough and Northampton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Desborough or Northampton?
Is Desborough or Northampton safer?
Which has better schools, Desborough or Northampton?
Which has faster broadband, Desborough or Northampton?
Keep exploring