Town comparison
Lancaster vs Morecambe
Which is better to live in? 2.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Morecambe offers lower property prices by roughly 19%. Lancaster has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Lancaster edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Lancaster
£247,557
Morecambe
£208,772
Crime Rate
Lancaster
73.2
Morecambe
73.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Lancaster
85.7%
Morecambe
81.8%
Avg Download Speed
Lancaster
414.9
Morecambe
454.7
EPC Rating
Lancaster
67.6
Morecambe
67.6
Median Income
Lancaster
£29,467
Morecambe
£29,467
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Morecambe is £208,772, which is 19% less than Lancaster at £247,557. The most affordable entry point in Lancaster is a flat at £149,941, while in Morecambe it is a flat at £125,494.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 45% pricier in Lancaster (£425,366 vs £294,226).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Morecambe prices grew faster — 49% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Lancaster (73.2 per 1,000) compared to Morecambe (73.2 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Lancaster is violent-crime, while in Morecambe 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 North WestLancaster has 85.7% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 81.8% in Morecambe. Lancaster has 17 schools in total, while Morecambe has 11.
Lancaster School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 17 schools (12 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Morecambe School Inspection Breakdown
81.8% of 11 schools (9 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Lancaster | Morecambe |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 17 | 11 |
| Primary | 12 | 9 |
| Secondary | 5 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 85.7% | 81.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Morecambe offers faster average downloads at 454.7 Mbps, compared to 414.9 Mbps in Lancaster. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.6% of premises in Lancaster and 99.8% in Morecambe. Gigabit availability stands at 78.8% in Lancaster and 87.8% in Morecambe.
Morecambe is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (455 vs 415 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Lancaster are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 67.6 (band C) versus 67.6 (band C) in Morecambe. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,337 in Lancaster and £1,337 in Morecambe. 51.2% of homes in Lancaster have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.2% in Morecambe.
Lancaster has more energy-efficient housing — 51.2% reach band C or above, vs 51.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,467 in Lancaster and £29,467 in Morecambe. The median age is 43.8 in Lancaster and 43.8 in Morecambe. Employment rates stand at 52.2% in Lancaster and 52.2% in Morecambe. Owner-occupancy is 67.1% in Lancaster versus 67.1% in Morecambe.
| Indicator | Lancaster | Morecambe |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,646 | 32,745 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 43.8 |
| Median Household Income | £29,467 | £29,467 |
| Employment Rate | 52.2% | 52.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.1% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.3% | 32.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Lancaster and Morecambe?
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