Town comparison
Altrincham vs Oldham
Which is better to live in? 14.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Oldham is about 108% 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
Oldham
£234,278
Crime Rate
Altrincham
73.9
Oldham
106.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Altrincham
100.0%
Oldham
78.1%
Avg Download Speed
Altrincham
433.1
Oldham
423.4
EPC Rating
Altrincham
70.8
Oldham
71.4
Median Income
Altrincham
£32,892
Oldham
£29,509
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Oldham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £234,278 versus £488,148 in Altrincham. The most affordable entry point in Altrincham is a flat at £262,356, while in Oldham it is a flat at £152,961.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 148% pricier in Altrincham (£412,708 vs £166,125).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Oldham prices grew faster — 55% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 73.9 offences per 1,000 people, Altrincham is the safer of the two – 44% lower than Oldham's 106.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Altrincham is violent-crime, while in Oldham 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 78.1% in Oldham.
Altrincham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Oldham School Inspection Breakdown
78.1% of 43 schools (37 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Altrincham | Oldham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 43 |
| Primary | 11 | 37 |
| Secondary | 5 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 78.1% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Altrincham enjoy 433.1 Mbps on average, while Oldham lags behind at 423.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Altrincham and 98.3% in Oldham. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Altrincham and 81.7% in Oldham.
Altrincham is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (433 vs 423 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Oldham 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 £1,101 in Oldham. 62.9% of homes in Altrincham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.7% in Oldham.
Oldham has more energy-efficient housing — 70.7% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Altrincham has a population of 49,034 while Oldham has 110,722. Median household income is £32,891.5 in Altrincham and £29,509 in Oldham. The median age is 44.2 in Altrincham and 39.5 in Oldham. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Altrincham and 52.5% in Oldham.
| Indicator | Altrincham | Oldham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,034 | 110,722 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £29,509 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 52.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 60.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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