Altrincham vs Heywood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Heywood is about 38% cheaper on average. Altrincham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Altrincham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Altrincham
£488,148
Heywood
£353,345
Crime Rate
Altrincham
73.9
Heywood
105.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Altrincham
100.0%
Heywood
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Altrincham
433.1
Heywood
451.7
EPC Rating
Altrincham
70.8
Heywood
71.9
Median Income
Altrincham
£32,892
Heywood
£28,946
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Heywood more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £353,345 versus £488,148 in Altrincham. The most affordable entry point in Altrincham is a flat at £262,356, while in Heywood it is a flat at £139,380.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 164% pricier in Altrincham (£412,708 vs £156,522).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heywood prices grew faster — 197% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 73.9 offences per 1,000 people, Altrincham is the safer of the two – 43% lower than Heywood's 105.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Altrincham is violent-crime, while in Heywood 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 90.9% in Heywood.
Altrincham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Heywood School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Altrincham | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 12 |
| Primary | 11 | 10 |
| Secondary | 5 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Heywood enjoy 451.7 Mbps on average, while Altrincham lags behind at 433.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Altrincham and 96% in Heywood. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Altrincham and 87.6% in Heywood.
Heywood is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (452 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Heywood is band C (score 71.9), ahead of Altrincham's band C (score 70.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Altrincham and £1,138 in Heywood. 62.9% of homes in Altrincham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Heywood.
Heywood has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Altrincham has a population of 49,034 while Heywood has 29,724. Median household income is £32,891.5 in Altrincham and £28,946 in Heywood. The median age is 44.2 in Altrincham and 40.3 in Heywood. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Altrincham and 54% in Heywood.
| Indicator | Altrincham | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,034 | 29,724 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 40.3 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £28,946 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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