Town comparison
Desford vs Leicester
Which is better to live in? 6.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Leicester is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 3% lower. Desford has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Desford edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Desford
£330,177
Leicester
£319,567
Crime Rate
Desford
53.2
Leicester
100.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Desford
100.0%
Leicester
90.8%
Avg Download Speed
Desford
292.2
Leicester
484.4
EPC Rating
Desford
71
Leicester
70.3
Median Income
Desford
£31,173
Leicester
£28,975
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsProperty in Desford commands an average of £330,177, compared with £319,567 in Leicester – a difference of 3%. The most affordable entry point in Desford is a flat at £109,125, while in Leicester it is a flat at £129,535.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Leicester (£129,535 vs £109,125).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Leicester prices grew faster — 47% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsDesford has a crime rate of 53.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 89% lower than Leicester at 100.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Desford is violent-crime, while in Leicester 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 Desford, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 90.8% in Leicester. There are 2 schools in Desford and 111 in Leicester.
Desford School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Leicester School Inspection Breakdown
90.8% of 111 schools (89 primary, 22 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Desford | Leicester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 111 |
| Primary | 1 | 89 |
| Secondary | 1 | 22 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 484.4 Mbps in Leicester and 292.2 Mbps in Desford. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.6% of premises in Desford and 99% in Leicester. Gigabit availability stands at 48.5% in Desford and 96.3% in Leicester.
Leicester is the faster of the two by 66% on average download speed (484 vs 292 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Desford, scoring 71 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Leicester. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,245 in Desford and £1,165 in Leicester. 61.5% of homes in Desford have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.4% in Leicester.
Desford has more energy-efficient housing — 61.5% reach band C or above, vs 59.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,172.7 in Desford and £28,975 in Leicester. The median age is 45.2 in Desford and 42.2 in Leicester. Employment rates stand at 60.5% in Desford and 58.1% in Leicester. Owner-occupancy is 76% in Desford versus 66.3% in Leicester. Desford has a population of 3,817 and Leicester has 406,331.
| Indicator | Desford | Leicester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,817 | 406,331 |
| Median Age | 45.2 | 42.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,172.7 | £28,975 |
| Employment Rate | 60.5% | 58.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 76% | 66.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.6% | 28.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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