Gainsborough vs Hatfield Woodhouse

Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.0 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Gainsborough wins on house prices with a 37% gap. Gainsborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hatfield Woodhouse edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

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Gainsborough

£186,553

Hatfield Woodhouse

£297,462

Crime Rate

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Gainsborough

61.0

Hatfield Woodhouse

116.9

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Gainsborough

77.8%

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Hatfield Woodhouse

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Gainsborough

333.2

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Hatfield Woodhouse

425.8

EPC Rating

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Gainsborough

71.1

Hatfield Woodhouse

70.9

Median Income

Gainsborough

£29,788

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Hatfield Woodhouse

£30,186

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in East Midlands

At £186,553, Gainsborough undercuts Hatfield Woodhouse (£297,462) by around 37% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Gainsborough is a flat at £84,676, while in Hatfield Woodhouse it is a semi-detached at £187,500.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 19% pricier in Hatfield Woodhouse (£342,750 vs £278,162).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Hatfield Woodhouse prices grew faster — 38% vs 37%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in East Midlands

Residents of Gainsborough experience less crime overall, with a rate of 61 per 1,000 versus 116.9 per 1,000 in Hatfield Woodhouse. The most common crime category in Gainsborough is violent-crime, while in Hatfield Woodhouse 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 Midlands

Of the 11 schools in Gainsborough, 77.8% are in the top two inspection bands. In Hatfield Woodhouse, which has 1 schools, the figure is 100%.

Gainsborough School Inspection Breakdown

77.8% of 11 schools (9 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Hatfield Woodhouse School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Gainsborough	Hatfield Woodhouse
Total Schools	11	1
Primary	9	1
Secondary	2	0
% Top two bands	77.8%	100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Broadband in Hatfield Woodhouse averages 425.8 Mbps – ahead of Gainsborough's 333.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 82.7% of premises in Gainsborough and 96% in Hatfield Woodhouse. Gigabit availability stands at 61.7% in Gainsborough and 82.9% in Hatfield Woodhouse.

Hatfield Woodhouse is the faster of the two by 28% on average download speed (426 vs 333 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Gainsborough, scoring 71.1 on average (band C) compared to 70.9 (band C) in Hatfield Woodhouse. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,306 in Gainsborough and £1,093 in Hatfield Woodhouse. 63% of homes in Gainsborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.2% in Hatfield Woodhouse.

Gainsborough has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 61.2% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £30,186 in Hatfield Woodhouse and £29,788 in Gainsborough. The median age is 46.1 in Gainsborough and 43.4 in Hatfield Woodhouse. Employment rates stand at 54.8% in Gainsborough and 54.9% in Hatfield Woodhouse. Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Gainsborough versus 62.8% in Hatfield Woodhouse. Gainsborough has a population of 21,899 and Hatfield Woodhouse has 3,182.

Indicator	Gainsborough	Hatfield Woodhouse
Population	21,899	3,182
Median Age	46.1	43.4
Median Household Income	£29,788	£30,186
Employment Rate	54.8%	54.9%
Owner Occupied	68.7%	62.8%
Degree-Level Qualified	26.2%	22.7%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Gainsborough and Hatfield Woodhouse?

Gainsborough and Hatfield Woodhouse are approximately 14.0 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Gainsborough or Hatfield Woodhouse?

Gainsborough is cheaper, with an average house price of £186,553.

Is Gainsborough or Hatfield Woodhouse safer?

Gainsborough has the lower crime rate at 61 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Gainsborough or Hatfield Woodhouse?

Hatfield Woodhouse has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Gainsborough or Hatfield Woodhouse?

Hatfield Woodhouse has faster average broadband at 425.8 Mbps.

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