Altrincham vs Prestwich
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Prestwich is about 56% 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
Prestwich
£312,556
Crime Rate
Altrincham
73.9
Prestwich
91.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Altrincham
100.0%
Prestwich
88.9%
Avg Download Speed
Altrincham
433.1
Prestwich
477.5
EPC Rating
Altrincham
70.8
Prestwich
72.6
Median Income
Altrincham
£32,892
Prestwich
£29,989
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Prestwich is £312,556, which is 56% less than Altrincham at £488,148. The most affordable entry point in Altrincham is a flat at £262,356, while in Prestwich it is a flat at £167,920.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 83% pricier in Altrincham (£863,236 vs £470,751).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Prestwich prices grew faster — 57% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Altrincham (73.9 per 1,000) compared to Prestwich (91.7 per 1,000), a 24% difference. The most common crime category in Altrincham is violent-crime, while in Prestwich 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 WestAltrincham has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 88.9% in Prestwich. Altrincham has 16 schools in total, while Prestwich has 11.
Altrincham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 16 schools (11 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Prestwich School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Altrincham | Prestwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 11 |
| Primary | 11 | 8 |
| Secondary | 5 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 88.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Prestwich offers faster average downloads at 477.5 Mbps, compared to 433.1 Mbps in Altrincham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Altrincham and 99.2% in Prestwich. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Altrincham and 94.1% in Prestwich.
Prestwich is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (478 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Prestwich are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.6 (band C) versus 70.8 (band C) in Altrincham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Altrincham and £1,050 in Prestwich. 62.9% of homes in Altrincham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.6% in Prestwich.
Prestwich has more energy-efficient housing — 72.6% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,891.5 in Altrincham and £29,989 in Prestwich. The median age is 44.2 in Altrincham and 38.5 in Prestwich. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Altrincham and 55.3% in Prestwich. Owner-occupancy is 70.5% in Altrincham versus 52.1% in Prestwich.
| Indicator | Altrincham | Prestwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,034 | 31,509 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 38.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £29,989 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 55.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 52.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 35% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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