Town comparison
Harrogate vs Leeds (Leeds)
Which is better to live in? 12.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Leeds (leeds) is about 50% cheaper on average. Harrogate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harrogate edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harrogate
£442,634
Leeds (Leeds)
£295,114
Crime Rate
Harrogate
47.4
Leeds (Leeds)
116.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harrogate
94.4%
Leeds (Leeds)
94.4%
Avg Download Speed
Harrogate
478.3
Leeds (Leeds)
470.5
EPC Rating
Harrogate
70.3
Leeds (Leeds)
71.4
Median Income
Harrogate
£29,895
Leeds (Leeds)
£31,465
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberThe average house price in Leeds (leeds) is £295,114, which is 50% less than Harrogate at £442,634. The most affordable entry point in Harrogate is a flat at £286,061, while in Leeds (leeds) it is a flat at £172,596.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 66% pricier in Harrogate (£286,061 vs £172,596).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Leeds (leeds) prices grew faster — 32% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberCrime is lower in Harrogate (47.4 per 1,000) compared to Leeds (leeds) (116.1 per 1,000), a 145% difference. The most common crime category in Harrogate is violent-crime, while in Leeds (leeds) 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 HumberHarrogate has 94.4% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 94.4% in Leeds (leeds). Harrogate has 22 schools in total, while Leeds (leeds) has 165.
Harrogate School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 22 schools (17 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Leeds (Leeds) School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 165 schools (136 primary, 29 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harrogate | Leeds (Leeds) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 22 | 165 |
| Primary | 17 | 136 |
| Secondary | 5 | 29 |
| % Top two bands | 94.4% | 94.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Harrogate offers faster average downloads at 478.3 Mbps, compared to 470.5 Mbps in Leeds (leeds). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.7% of premises in Harrogate and 98.3% in Leeds (leeds). Gigabit availability stands at 94% in Harrogate and 92.5% in Leeds (leeds).
Harrogate is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (478 vs 471 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Leeds (leeds) are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.3 (band C) in Harrogate. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,432 in Harrogate and £1,138 in Leeds (leeds). 59.5% of homes in Harrogate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.3% in Leeds (leeds).
Leeds (leeds) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.3% reach band C or above, vs 59.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,465 in Leeds (leeds) and £29,895 in Harrogate. The median age is 48.1 in Harrogate and 40.1 in Leeds (leeds). Employment rates stand at 56.9% in Harrogate and 56.8% in Leeds (leeds). Owner-occupancy is 68.4% in Harrogate versus 57% in Leeds (leeds).
| Indicator | Harrogate | Leeds (Leeds) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,522 | 536,262 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 40.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,895 | £31,465 |
| Employment Rate | 56.9% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 57% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.2% | 34.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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