Alcester vs Dickens Heath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Dickens Heath wins on house prices with a 54% gap. For families, Alcester edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alcester
£393,039
Dickens Heath
£254,465
Crime Rate
Alcester
N/A
Dickens Heath
78.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alcester
100.0%
Dickens Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alcester
352.3
Dickens Heath
462
EPC Rating
Alcester
70.4
Dickens Heath
69.8
Median Income
Alcester
£30,925
Dickens Heath
£33,940
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsAt £254,465, Dickens Heath undercuts Alcester (£393,039) by around 54% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Alcester is a flat at £175,827, while in Dickens Heath it is a flat at £208,841.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 16% pricier in Dickens Heath (£383,893 vs £320,756).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Alcester prices grew faster — 41% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime rate data is not available for both Alcester and Dickens Heath 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 Dickens Heath, which has 1 schools, the figure is 100%.
Alcester School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (2 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dickens Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alcester | Dickens Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 1 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Dickens Heath averages 462.0 Mbps – ahead of Alcester's 352.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.6% of premises in Alcester and 96.7% in Dickens Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 65.9% in Alcester and 91.4% in Dickens Heath.
Dickens Heath is the faster of the two by 31% on average download speed (462 vs 352 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Alcester leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.4 (C), while Dickens Heath averages 69.8 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,372 in Alcester and £1,242 in Dickens Heath. 63.3% of homes in Alcester have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Dickens Heath.
Alcester has more energy-efficient housing — 63.3% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,939.5 in Dickens Heath and £30,924.5 in Alcester. The median age is 48 in Alcester and 45.6 in Dickens Heath. Owner-occupancy is 70.4% in Alcester versus 74.8% in Dickens Heath. Employment rates stand at 58.1% in Alcester and 57.2% in Dickens Heath.
| Indicator | Alcester | Dickens Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,425 | 4,797 |
| Median Age | 48 | 45.6 |
| Median Household Income | £30,924.5 | £33,939.5 |
| Employment Rate | 58.1% | 57.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.4% | 74.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.2% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Alcester and Dickens Heath?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alcester or Dickens Heath?
Is Alcester or Dickens Heath safer?
Which has better schools, Alcester or Dickens Heath?
Which has faster broadband, Alcester or Dickens Heath?
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