Town comparison
Harrogate vs Ilkley
Which is better to live in? 12.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Harrogate is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 6% lower. Harrogate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Ilkley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harrogate
£442,634
Ilkley
£473,279
Crime Rate
Harrogate
47.4
Ilkley
119.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harrogate
94.4%
Ilkley
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Harrogate
478.3
Ilkley
365.1
EPC Rating
Harrogate
70.3
Ilkley
70.3
Median Income
Harrogate
£29,895
Ilkley
£29,805
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberProperty in Ilkley commands an average of £473,279, compared with £442,634 in Harrogate – a difference of 6%. The most affordable entry point in Harrogate is a flat at £286,061, while in Ilkley it is a flat at £282,262.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 32% pricier in Ilkley (£540,711 vs £370,280).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harrogate prices grew faster — 28% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberHarrogate has a crime rate of 47.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 153% lower than Ilkley at 119.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Harrogate is violent-crime, while in Ilkley 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 Yorkshire and the HumberFamilies may prefer Ilkley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 94.4% in Harrogate. There are 22 schools in Harrogate and 5 in Ilkley.
Harrogate School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 22 schools (17 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ilkley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harrogate | Ilkley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 22 | 5 |
| Primary | 17 | 4 |
| Secondary | 5 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 94.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 478.3 Mbps in Harrogate and 365.1 Mbps in Ilkley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.7% of premises in Harrogate and 91.7% in Ilkley. Gigabit availability stands at 94% in Harrogate and 66.9% in Ilkley.
Harrogate is the faster of the two by 31% on average download speed (478 vs 365 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Harrogate, scoring 70.3 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Ilkley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,432 in Harrogate and £1,370 in Ilkley. 59.5% of homes in Harrogate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.1% in Ilkley.
Ilkley has more energy-efficient housing — 60.1% reach band C or above, vs 59.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,895 in Harrogate and £29,804.9 in Ilkley. The median age is 48.1 in Harrogate and 46.2 in Ilkley. Employment rates stand at 56.9% in Harrogate and 56.4% in Ilkley. Owner-occupancy is 68.4% in Harrogate versus 66.4% in Ilkley. Harrogate has a population of 75,522 and Ilkley has 14,852.
| Indicator | Harrogate | Ilkley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,522 | 14,852 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 46.2 |
| Median Household Income | £29,895 | £29,804.9 |
| Employment Rate | 56.9% | 56.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.2% | 33.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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