Town comparison
Harrogate vs Ripon
Which is better to live in? 9.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Ripon is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 27% lower. Harrogate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Harrogate edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harrogate
£442,634
Ripon
£349,303
Crime Rate
Harrogate
47.4
Ripon
47.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harrogate
94.4%
Ripon
80.0%
Avg Download Speed
Harrogate
478.3
Ripon
129.4
EPC Rating
Harrogate
70.3
Ripon
70.3
Median Income
Harrogate
£29,895
Ripon
£29,895
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberProperty in Harrogate commands an average of £442,634, compared with £349,303 in Ripon – a difference of 27%. The most affordable entry point in Harrogate is a flat at £286,061, while in Ripon it is a flat at £194,170.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 47% pricier in Harrogate (£286,061 vs £194,170).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harrogate prices grew faster — 28% vs 17%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberHarrogate has a crime rate of 47.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Ripon at 47.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Harrogate is violent-crime, while in Ripon 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 Harrogate, where 94.4% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 80% in Ripon. There are 22 schools in Harrogate and 7 in Ripon.
Harrogate School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 22 schools (17 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ripon School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harrogate | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 22 | 7 |
| Primary | 17 | 5 |
| Secondary | 5 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 94.4% | 80% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 478.3 Mbps in Harrogate and 129.4 Mbps in Ripon. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.7% of premises in Harrogate and 80.7% in Ripon. Gigabit availability stands at 94% in Harrogate and 14.9% in Ripon.
Harrogate is the faster of the two by 270% on average download speed (478 vs 129 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Harrogate, scoring 70.3 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Ripon. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,432 in Harrogate and £1,432 in Ripon. 59.5% of homes in Harrogate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.5% in Ripon.
Harrogate has more energy-efficient housing — 59.5% reach band C or above, vs 59.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,895 in Harrogate and £29,895 in Ripon. The median age is 48.1 in Harrogate and 48.1 in Ripon. Employment rates stand at 56.9% in Harrogate and 56.9% in Ripon. Owner-occupancy is 68.4% in Harrogate versus 68.4% in Ripon. Harrogate has a population of 75,522 and Ripon has 16,593.
| Indicator | Harrogate | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,522 | 16,593 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,895 | £29,895 |
| Employment Rate | 56.9% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.2% | 34.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Harrogate and Ripon?
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