Town comparison
Harrogate vs York
Which is better to live in? 18.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in York is about 19% cheaper on average. Harrogate has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, York edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Harrogate
£442,634
York
£370,484
Crime Rate
Harrogate
38.4
York
45.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Harrogate
94.4%
York
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Harrogate
478.3
York
220.7
EPC Rating
Harrogate
70.3
York
70
Median Income
Harrogate
£29,895
York
£31,854
House Prices (2025)
Buyers will find York more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £370,484 versus £442,634 in Harrogate. The most affordable entry point in Harrogate is a flat at £286,061, while in York it is a flat at £224,389.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 37% pricier in Harrogate (£664,449 vs £486,419).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Harrogate prices grew faster — 28% vs 21%.
Crime & Safety
With 38.4 offences per 1,000 people, Harrogate is the safer of the two – 18% lower than York's 45.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Harrogate is violent-crime, while in York it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
School quality favours York: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 94.4% in Harrogate.
Harrogate School Inspection Breakdown
94.4% of 22 schools (17 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
York School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 36 schools (30 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Harrogate | York |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 22 | 36 |
| Primary | 17 | 30 |
| Secondary | 5 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 94.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Harrogate enjoy 478.3 Mbps on average, while York lags behind at 220.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.7% of premises in Harrogate and 71.7% in York. Gigabit availability stands at 94% in Harrogate and 29.6% in York.
Harrogate is the faster of the two by 117% on average download speed (478 vs 221 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Harrogate is band C (score 70.3), ahead of York's band C (score 70). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,432 in Harrogate and £1,221 in York. 59.5% of homes in Harrogate have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.5% in York.
Harrogate has more energy-efficient housing — 59.5% reach band C or above, vs 58.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Harrogate has a population of 75,522 while York has 141,286. Median household income is £31,854 in York and £29,895 in Harrogate. The median age is 48.1 in Harrogate and 43.1 in York. Employment rates stand at 56.9% in Harrogate and 55.9% in York.
| Indicator | Harrogate | York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,522 | 141,286 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 43.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,895 | £31,854 |
| Employment Rate | 56.9% | 55.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 65.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.2% | 38.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Harrogate and York?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Harrogate or York?
Is Harrogate or York safer?
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