Northampton vs Wellingborough
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Wellingborough is about 16% cheaper on average. Wellingborough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Northampton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Northampton
£329,344
Wellingborough
£284,278
Crime Rate
Northampton
97.5
Wellingborough
75.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Northampton
100.0%
Wellingborough
93.3%
Avg Download Speed
Northampton
477
Wellingborough
474.5
EPC Rating
Northampton
72.8
Wellingborough
73.5
Median Income
Northampton
£31,555
Wellingborough
£31,402
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in East MidlandsThe average house price in Wellingborough is £284,278, which is 16% less than Northampton at £329,344. The most affordable entry point in Northampton is a flat at £146,260, while in Wellingborough it is a flat at £137,016.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 21% pricier in Northampton (£455,514 vs £375,679).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Northampton prices grew faster — 41% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in East MidlandsCrime is lower in Wellingborough (75.3 per 1,000) compared to Northampton (97.5 per 1,000), a 29% difference. The most common crime category in Northampton is violent-crime, while in Wellingborough 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 MidlandsNorthampton has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 93.3% in Wellingborough. Northampton has 69 schools in total, while Wellingborough has 17.
Northampton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 69 schools (57 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wellingborough School Inspection Breakdown
93.3% of 17 schools (14 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Northampton | Wellingborough |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 69 | 17 |
| Primary | 57 | 14 |
| Secondary | 12 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 93.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Northampton offers faster average downloads at 477.0 Mbps, compared to 474.5 Mbps in Wellingborough. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.1% of premises in Northampton and 98.4% in Wellingborough. Gigabit availability stands at 94.5% in Northampton and 94.1% in Wellingborough.
Northampton is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (477 vs 475 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Wellingborough are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.5 (band C) versus 72.8 (band C) in Northampton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,121 in Northampton and £1,082 in Wellingborough. 68.4% of homes in Northampton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Wellingborough.
Wellingborough has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 68.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,554.5 in Northampton and £31,402 in Wellingborough. The median age is 42 in Northampton and 42.4 in Wellingborough. Employment rates stand at 62.3% in Northampton and 61.8% in Wellingborough. Owner-occupancy is 64.9% in Northampton versus 65% in Wellingborough.
| Indicator | Northampton | Wellingborough |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 243,883 | 54,421 |
| Median Age | 42 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £31,554.5 | £31,402 |
| Employment Rate | 62.3% | 61.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.9% | 65% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.2% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Northampton and Wellingborough?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Northampton or Wellingborough?
Is Northampton or Wellingborough safer?
Which has better schools, Northampton or Wellingborough?
Which has faster broadband, Northampton or Wellingborough?
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