Town comparison
Alcester vs Astwood Bank
Which is better to live in? 4.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Astwood Bank is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 2% lower. For families, Alcester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alcester
£393,039
Astwood Bank
£384,767
Crime Rate
Alcester
N/A
Astwood Bank
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alcester
100.0%
Astwood Bank
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alcester
352.3
Astwood Bank
222.5
EPC Rating
Alcester
70.4
Astwood Bank
70.5
Median Income
Alcester
£30,925
Astwood Bank
£30,396
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsAt £384,767, Astwood Bank undercuts Alcester (£393,039) by around 2% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alcester is a flat at £175,827, while in Astwood Bank it is a flat at £124,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 41% pricier in Alcester (£175,827 vs £124,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Alcester prices grew faster — 41% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime rate data is not available for both Alcester and Astwood Bank at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in West MidlandsOf the 5 schools in Alcester, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Astwood Bank, which has 2 schools, the figure is 100%.
Alcester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (2 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Astwood Bank School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alcester | Astwood Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Alcester averages 352.3 Mbps – ahead of Astwood Bank's 222.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.6% of premises in Alcester and 82.4% in Astwood Bank. Gigabit availability stands at 65.9% in Alcester and 36.5% in Astwood Bank.
Alcester is the faster of the two by 58% on average download speed (352 vs 223 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Astwood Bank leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.5 (C), while Alcester averages 70.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,372 in Alcester and £1,278 in Astwood Bank. 63.3% of homes in Alcester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.1% in Astwood Bank.
Astwood Bank has more energy-efficient housing — 65.1% reach band C or above, vs 63.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,924.5 in Alcester and £30,396 in Astwood Bank. The median age is 48 in Alcester and 46 in Astwood Bank. Owner-occupancy is 70.4% in Alcester versus 68.4% in Astwood Bank. Employment rates stand at 58.1% in Alcester and 59% in Astwood Bank.
| Indicator | Alcester | Astwood Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,425 | 3,248 |
| Median Age | 48 | 46 |
| Median Household Income | £30,924.5 | £30,396 |
| Employment Rate | 58.1% | 59% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.4% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.2% | 32.8% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alcester and Astwood Bank?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alcester or Astwood Bank?
Is Alcester or Astwood Bank safer?
Which has better schools, Alcester or Astwood Bank?
Which has faster broadband, Alcester or Astwood Bank?
Keep exploring