Town comparison
Ripon vs Thirsk
Which is better to live in? 10.2 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Ripon wins on house prices with a 2% gap. Ripon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Thirsk edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Ripon
£349,303
Thirsk
£354,765
Crime Rate
Ripon
47.5
Thirsk
47.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Ripon
80.0%
Thirsk
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Ripon
129.4
Thirsk
256.9
EPC Rating
Ripon
70.3
Thirsk
70.3
Median Income
Ripon
£29,895
Thirsk
£29,895
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberAt £349,303, Ripon undercuts Thirsk (£354,765) by around 2% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Ripon is a flat at £194,170, while in Thirsk it is a flat at £131,723.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 47% pricier in Ripon (£194,170 vs £131,723).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Thirsk prices grew faster — 40% vs 17%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberResidents of Ripon experience less crime overall, with a rate of 47.5 per 1,000 versus 47.5 per 1,000 in Thirsk. The most common crime category in Ripon is violent-crime, while in Thirsk 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 HumberOf the 7 schools in Ripon, 80% are in the top two inspection bands. In Thirsk, which has 1 schools, the figure is 100%.
Ripon School Inspection Breakdown
80% of 7 schools (5 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Thirsk School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Ripon | Thirsk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 1 |
| Primary | 5 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 80% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Thirsk averages 256.9 Mbps – ahead of Ripon's 129.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 80.7% of premises in Ripon and 78% in Thirsk. Gigabit availability stands at 14.9% in Ripon and 45.5% in Thirsk.
Thirsk is the faster of the two by 99% on average download speed (257 vs 129 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ripon, scoring 70.3 on average (band C) compared to 70.3 (band C) in Thirsk. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,432 in Ripon and £1,432 in Thirsk. 59.5% of homes in Ripon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.5% in Thirsk.
Ripon 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 Ripon and £29,895 in Thirsk. The median age is 48.1 in Ripon and 48.1 in Thirsk. Employment rates stand at 56.9% in Ripon and 56.9% in Thirsk. Owner-occupancy is 68.4% in Ripon versus 68.4% in Thirsk. Ripon has a population of 16,593 and Thirsk has 5,891.
| Indicator | Ripon | Thirsk |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,593 | 5,891 |
| 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
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