Altrincham vs Atherton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Atherton offers lower property prices by roughly 157%. Altrincham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Altrincham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Altrincham
£488,148
Atherton
£190,266
Crime Rate
Altrincham
73.9
Atherton
92.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Altrincham
100.0%
Atherton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Altrincham
433.1
Atherton
463.3
EPC Rating
Altrincham
70.8
Atherton
71.4
Median Income
Altrincham
£32,892
Atherton
£29,107
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Atherton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,266 versus £488,148 in Altrincham. The most affordable entry point in Altrincham is a flat at £262,356, while in Atherton it is a flat at £118,767.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 173% pricier in Altrincham (£412,708 vs £151,296).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Altrincham prices grew faster — 34% vs -12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Altrincham (73.9 per 1,000) compared to Atherton (92.3 per 1,000), a 25% difference. The most common crime category in Altrincham is violent-crime, while in Atherton 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 North WestSchool quality favours Altrincham: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Atherton.
Altrincham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Atherton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (10 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Altrincham | Atherton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 11 |
| Primary | 11 | 10 |
| Secondary | 5 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Atherton enjoy 463.3 Mbps on average, while Altrincham lags behind at 433.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Altrincham and 99.4% in Atherton. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Altrincham and 91.3% in Atherton.
Atherton is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (463 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Atherton is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Altrincham's band C (score 70.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Altrincham and £1,087 in Atherton. 62.9% of homes in Altrincham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.6% in Atherton.
Atherton has more energy-efficient housing — 66.6% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Altrincham has a population of 49,034 while Atherton has 27,321. Median household income is £32,891.5 in Altrincham and £29,107 in Atherton. The median age is 44.2 in Altrincham and 41.9 in Atherton. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Altrincham and 55.8% in Atherton.
| Indicator | Altrincham | Atherton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,034 | 27,321 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £29,107 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 64% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 26.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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