Town comparison
Altrincham vs Manchester
Which is better to live in? 7.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Manchester wins on house prices with a 53% gap. Altrincham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Altrincham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Altrincham
£488,148
Manchester
£319,011
Crime Rate
Altrincham
73.9
Manchester
143.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Altrincham
100.0%
Manchester
88.3%
Avg Download Speed
Altrincham
433.1
Manchester
468
EPC Rating
Altrincham
70.8
Manchester
74.1
Median Income
Altrincham
£32,892
Manchester
£28,386
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Altrincham commands an average of £488,148, compared with £319,011 in Manchester – a difference of 53%. The most affordable entry point in Altrincham is a flat at £262,356, while in Manchester it is a flat at £224,609.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 82% pricier in Altrincham (£863,236 vs £473,031).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Manchester prices grew faster — 38% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Altrincham experience less crime overall, with a rate of 73.9 per 1,000 versus 143.2 per 1,000 in Manchester. The most common crime category in Altrincham is violent-crime, while in Manchester 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 WestFamilies may prefer Altrincham, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 88.3% in Manchester. There are 16 schools in Altrincham and 146 in Manchester.
Altrincham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Manchester School Inspection Breakdown
88.3% of 146 schools (118 primary, 28 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Altrincham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 146 |
| Primary | 11 | 118 |
| Secondary | 5 | 28 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 88.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 468.0 Mbps in Manchester and 433.1 Mbps in Altrincham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Altrincham and 98.5% in Manchester. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Altrincham and 91% in Manchester.
Manchester is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (468 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Manchester, scoring 74.1 on average (band C) compared to 70.8 (band C) in Altrincham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Altrincham and £915 in Manchester. 62.9% of homes in Altrincham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 79.1% in Manchester.
Manchester has more energy-efficient housing — 79.1% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,891.5 in Altrincham and £28,386 in Manchester. The median age is 44.2 in Altrincham and 34.7 in Manchester. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Altrincham and 53.5% in Manchester. Owner-occupancy is 70.5% in Altrincham versus 37.2% in Manchester. Altrincham has a population of 49,034 and Manchester has 470,736.
| Indicator | Altrincham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,034 | 470,736 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 34.7 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £28,386 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 53.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 37.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 37.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Altrincham and Manchester?
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