Higham Ferrers vs Northampton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Higham Ferrers is about 5% cheaper on average. Higham Ferrers has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Northampton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Higham Ferrers
£311,873
Northampton
£329,344
Crime Rate
Higham Ferrers
75.4
Northampton
97.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Higham Ferrers
50.0%
Northampton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Higham Ferrers
486
Northampton
477
EPC Rating
Higham Ferrers
72.5
Northampton
72.8
Median Income
Higham Ferrers
£32,409
Northampton
£31,555
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsBuyers will find Higham Ferrers more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £311,873 versus £329,344 in Northampton. The most affordable entry point in Higham Ferrers is a flat at £169,000, while in Northampton it is a flat at £146,260.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Higham Ferrers (£169,000 vs £146,260).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Higham Ferrers prices grew faster — 47% vs 41%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsWith 75.4 offences per 1,000 people, Higham Ferrers is the safer of the two – 29% lower than Northampton's 97.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Higham Ferrers is violent-crime, while in Northampton 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 East MidlandsSchool quality favours Northampton: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 50% in Higham Ferrers.
Higham Ferrers School Inspection Breakdown
50% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Northampton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 69 schools (57 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Higham Ferrers | Northampton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 69 |
| Primary | 3 | 57 |
| Secondary | 1 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 50% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Higham Ferrers enjoy 486.0 Mbps on average, while Northampton lags behind at 477.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Higham Ferrers and 99.1% in Northampton. Gigabit availability stands at 96.6% in Higham Ferrers and 94.5% in Northampton.
Higham Ferrers is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (486 vs 477 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Northampton is band C (score 72.8), ahead of Higham Ferrers's band C (score 72.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,096 in Higham Ferrers and £1,121 in Northampton. 69.9% of homes in Higham Ferrers have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.4% in Northampton.
Higham Ferrers has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 68.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Higham Ferrers has a population of 8,825 while Northampton has 243,883. Median household income is £32,409 in Higham Ferrers and £31,554.5 in Northampton. The median age is 42 in Higham Ferrers and 42 in Northampton. Employment rates stand at 61.5% in Higham Ferrers and 62.3% in Northampton.
| Indicator | Higham Ferrers | Northampton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,825 | 243,883 |
| Median Age | 42 | 42 |
| Median Household Income | £32,409 | £31,554.5 |
| Employment Rate | 61.5% | 62.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.9% | 64.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 29.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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