Town comparison
Rotherham vs Sheffield
Which is better to live in? 5.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Rotherham is about 21% cheaper on average. Rotherham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Rotherham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Rotherham
£209,305
Sheffield
£266,122
Crime Rate
Rotherham
90.9
Sheffield
97.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Rotherham
100.0%
Sheffield
94.5%
Avg Download Speed
Rotherham
459.6
Sheffield
448.5
EPC Rating
Rotherham
70
Sheffield
69.8
Median Income
Rotherham
£29,076
Sheffield
£30,186
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberThe average house price in Rotherham is £209,305, which is 21% less than Sheffield at £266,122. The most affordable entry point in Rotherham is a flat at £98,917, while in Sheffield it is a flat at £153,742.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 42% pricier in Sheffield (£207,174 vs £120,796).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Sheffield prices grew faster — 32% vs 15%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberWith 90.9 offences per 1,000 people, Rotherham is the safer of the two – 7% lower than Sheffield's 97.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Rotherham is violent-crime, while in Sheffield 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 HumberRotherham has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 94.5% in Sheffield. Rotherham has 28 schools in total, while Sheffield has 142.
Rotherham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 28 schools (23 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sheffield School Inspection Breakdown
94.5% of 142 schools (115 primary, 27 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Rotherham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 28 | 142 |
| Primary | 23 | 115 |
| Secondary | 5 | 27 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 94.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Rotherham offers faster average downloads at 459.6 Mbps, compared to 448.5 Mbps in Sheffield. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.4% of premises in Rotherham and 97.4% in Sheffield. Gigabit availability stands at 90.6% in Rotherham and 88.1% in Sheffield.
Rotherham is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (460 vs 449 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Rotherham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70 (band C) versus 69.8 (band C) in Sheffield. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,063 in Rotherham and £1,060 in Sheffield. 62% of homes in Rotherham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Sheffield.
Rotherham has more energy-efficient housing — 62% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,186 in Sheffield and £29,075.5 in Rotherham. The median age is 42.2 in Rotherham and 41.1 in Sheffield. Employment rates stand at 53.8% in Rotherham and 53% in Sheffield. Owner-occupancy is 61% in Rotherham versus 58.3% in Sheffield.
| Indicator | Rotherham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 70,761 | 500,587 |
| Median Age | 42.2 | 41.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,075.5 | £30,186 |
| Employment Rate | 53.8% | 53% |
| Owner Occupied | 61% | 58.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 28.2% | 33.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Rotherham and Sheffield?
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