Town comparison
Garstang vs Lancaster
Which is better to live in? 10.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Lancaster is about 11% cheaper on average. Garstang has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Garstang edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Garstang
£275,419
Lancaster
£247,557
Crime Rate
Garstang
58.6
Lancaster
73.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Garstang
100.0%
Lancaster
85.7%
Avg Download Speed
Garstang
374.9
Lancaster
414.9
EPC Rating
Garstang
70.5
Lancaster
67.6
Median Income
Garstang
£30,904
Lancaster
£29,467
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Lancaster is £247,557, which is 11% less than Garstang at £275,419. The most affordable entry point in Garstang is a flat at £146,658, while in Lancaster it is a flat at £149,941.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 27% pricier in Garstang (£231,042 vs £181,609).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Garstang prices grew faster — 23% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 58.6 offences per 1,000 people, Garstang is the safer of the two – 25% lower than Lancaster's 73.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Garstang is violent-crime, while in Lancaster 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 North WestGarstang has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 85.7% in Lancaster. Garstang has 2 schools in total, while Lancaster has 17.
Garstang School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lancaster School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 17 schools (12 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Garstang | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 17 |
| Primary | 2 | 12 |
| Secondary | 0 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 85.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Lancaster offers faster average downloads at 414.9 Mbps, compared to 374.9 Mbps in Garstang. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 92.2% of premises in Garstang and 97.6% in Lancaster. Gigabit availability stands at 71.1% in Garstang and 78.8% in Lancaster.
Lancaster is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (415 vs 375 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Garstang are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.5 (band C) versus 67.6 (band C) in Lancaster. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,255 in Garstang and £1,337 in Lancaster. 60% of homes in Garstang have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.2% in Lancaster.
Garstang has more energy-efficient housing — 60% reach band C or above, vs 51.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,904 in Garstang and £29,467 in Lancaster. The median age is 46.2 in Garstang and 43.8 in Lancaster. Employment rates stand at 53.9% in Garstang and 52.2% in Lancaster. Owner-occupancy is 69.2% in Garstang versus 67.1% in Lancaster.
| Indicator | Garstang | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,804 | 52,646 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 43.8 |
| Median Household Income | £30,904 | £29,467 |
| Employment Rate | 53.9% | 52.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.2% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.3% | 32.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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