Altrincham vs Northwich
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Northwich wins on house prices with a 55% gap. Northwich has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Altrincham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Altrincham
£488,148
Northwich
£315,151
Crime Rate
Altrincham
73.9
Northwich
66.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Altrincham
100.0%
Northwich
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Altrincham
433.1
Northwich
425.9
EPC Rating
Altrincham
70.8
Northwich
71.2
Median Income
Altrincham
£32,892
Northwich
£31,749
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Altrincham commands an average of £488,148, compared with £315,151 in Northwich – a difference of 55%. The most affordable entry point in Altrincham is a flat at £262,356, while in Northwich it is a flat at £133,715.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 111% pricier in Altrincham (£412,708 vs £195,610).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Altrincham prices grew faster — 34% vs -9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Northwich experience less crime overall, with a rate of 66.7 per 1,000 versus 73.9 per 1,000 in Altrincham. The most common crime category in Altrincham is violent-crime, while in Northwich 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 100% in Northwich. There are 16 schools in Altrincham and 4 in Northwich.
Altrincham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Northwich School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Altrincham | Northwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 4 |
| Primary | 11 | 4 |
| Secondary | 5 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 433.1 Mbps in Altrincham and 425.9 Mbps in Northwich. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Altrincham and 94.5% in Northwich. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Altrincham and 82.4% in Northwich.
Altrincham is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (433 vs 426 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Northwich, scoring 71.2 on average (band C) compared to 70.8 (band C) in Altrincham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Altrincham and £1,176 in Northwich. 62.9% of homes in Altrincham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Northwich.
Northwich has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,891.5 in Altrincham and £31,749 in Northwich. The median age is 44.2 in Altrincham and 45.5 in Northwich. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Altrincham and 57.8% in Northwich. Owner-occupancy is 70.5% in Altrincham versus 70.1% in Northwich. Altrincham has a population of 49,034 and Northwich has 18,646.
| Indicator | Altrincham | Northwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,034 | 18,646 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 45.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £31,749 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 70.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 36.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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