Town comparison
Alcester vs Church Stretton
Which is better to live in? 45.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Alcester is about 2% cheaper on average. For families, Alcester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alcester
£393,039
Church Stretton
£399,111
Crime Rate
Alcester
N/A
Church Stretton
48.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alcester
100.0%
Church Stretton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alcester
352.3
Church Stretton
190
EPC Rating
Alcester
70.4
Church Stretton
69.1
Median Income
Alcester
£30,925
Church Stretton
£29,576
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Alcester more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £393,039 versus £399,111 in Church Stretton. The most affordable entry point in Alcester is a flat at £175,827, while in Church Stretton it is a flat at £138,019.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 29% pricier in Alcester (£267,202 vs £207,768).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Church Stretton prices grew faster — 55% vs 41%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime rate data is not available for both Alcester and Church Stretton at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in West MidlandsSchool quality favours Alcester: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Church Stretton.
Alcester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (2 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Church Stretton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alcester | Church Stretton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Alcester enjoy 352.3 Mbps on average, while Church Stretton lags behind at 190.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.6% of premises in Alcester and 72.9% in Church Stretton. Gigabit availability stands at 65.9% in Alcester and 30.6% in Church Stretton.
Alcester is the faster of the two by 85% on average download speed (352 vs 190 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Alcester is band C (score 70.4), ahead of Church Stretton's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,372 in Alcester and £1,405 in Church Stretton. 63.3% of homes in Alcester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.2% in Church Stretton.
Alcester has more energy-efficient housing — 63.3% reach band C or above, vs 59.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Alcester has a population of 6,425 while Church Stretton has 3,576. Median household income is £30,924.5 in Alcester and £29,576 in Church Stretton. The median age is 48 in Alcester and 48.1 in Church Stretton. Employment rates stand at 58.1% in Alcester and 56% in Church Stretton.
| Indicator | Alcester | Church Stretton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,425 | 3,576 |
| Median Age | 48 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £30,924.5 | £29,576 |
| Employment Rate | 58.1% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.4% | 68.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.2% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alcester and Church Stretton?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alcester or Church Stretton?
Is Alcester or Church Stretton safer?
Which has better schools, Alcester or Church Stretton?
Which has faster broadband, Alcester or Church Stretton?
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