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Gainsborough vs Skellingthorpe

Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.2 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Gainsborough wins on house prices with a 35% gap. Skellingthorpe has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Skellingthorpe edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

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Gainsborough

£186,553

Skellingthorpe

£285,817

Crime Rate

Gainsborough

61.0

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Skellingthorpe

38.8

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Gainsborough

77.8%

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Skellingthorpe

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Gainsborough

333.2

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Skellingthorpe

443.3

EPC Rating

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Gainsborough

71.1

Skellingthorpe

70.3

Median Income

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Gainsborough

£29,788

Skellingthorpe

£29,638

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in East Midlands

Property in Skellingthorpe commands an average of £285,817, compared with £186,553 in Gainsborough – a difference of 35%. The most affordable entry point in Gainsborough is a flat at £84,676, while in Skellingthorpe it is a terraced at £238,750.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: terraced homes are 54% pricier in Skellingthorpe (£238,750 vs £108,659).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Gainsborough prices grew faster — 37% vs 12%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in East Midlands

Residents of Skellingthorpe experience less crime overall, with a rate of 38.8 per 1,000 versus 61 per 1,000 in Gainsborough. The most common crime category in Gainsborough is violent-crime, while in Skellingthorpe 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

Families may prefer Skellingthorpe, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 77.8% in Gainsborough. There are 11 schools in Gainsborough and 2 in Skellingthorpe.

Gainsborough School Inspection Breakdown

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

Skellingthorpe School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

MetricGainsboroughSkellingthorpe
Total Schools112
Primary92
Secondary20
% Top two bands77.8%100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 443.3 Mbps in Skellingthorpe and 333.2 Mbps in Gainsborough. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 82.7% of premises in Gainsborough and 95.8% in Skellingthorpe. Gigabit availability stands at 61.7% in Gainsborough and 87.1% in Skellingthorpe.

Skellingthorpe is the faster of the two by 33% on average download speed (443 vs 333 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Gainsborough, scoring 71.1 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Skellingthorpe. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,306 in Gainsborough and £1,230 in Skellingthorpe. 63% of homes in Gainsborough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.4% in Skellingthorpe.

Gainsborough has more energy-efficient housing — 63% reach band C or above, vs 60.4% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £29,788 in Gainsborough and £29,637.7 in Skellingthorpe. The median age is 46.1 in Gainsborough and 43.7 in Skellingthorpe. Employment rates stand at 54.8% in Gainsborough and 55.9% in Skellingthorpe. Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Gainsborough versus 64.1% in Skellingthorpe. Gainsborough has a population of 21,899 and Skellingthorpe has 3,116.

IndicatorGainsboroughSkellingthorpe
Population21,8993,116
Median Age46.143.7
Median Household Income£29,788£29,637.7
Employment Rate54.8%55.9%
Owner Occupied68.7%64.1%
Degree-Level Qualified26.2%28.4%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Gainsborough and Skellingthorpe?
Gainsborough and Skellingthorpe are approximately 13.2 miles apart as the crow flies.
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Gainsborough or Skellingthorpe?
Gainsborough is cheaper, with an average house price of £186,553.
Is Gainsborough or Skellingthorpe safer?
Skellingthorpe has the lower crime rate at 38.8 per 1,000 residents.
Which has better schools, Gainsborough or Skellingthorpe?
Skellingthorpe has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.
Which has faster broadband, Gainsborough or Skellingthorpe?
Skellingthorpe has faster average broadband at 443.3 Mbps.

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