Alvechurch vs Cradley Heath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Cradley Heath offers lower property prices by roughly 70%. For families, Alvechurch edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Alvechurch
£443,033
Cradley Heath
£260,552
Crime Rate
Alvechurch
N/A
Cradley Heath
95.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Alvechurch
100.0%
Cradley Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Alvechurch
416.3
Cradley Heath
439.5
EPC Rating
Alvechurch
70.1
Cradley Heath
68.8
Median Income
Alvechurch
£32,815
Cradley Heath
£28,800
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsThe average house price in Cradley Heath is £260,552, which is 70% less than Alvechurch at £443,033. The most affordable entry point in Alvechurch is a flat at £181,000, while in Cradley Heath it is a flat at £106,173.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 100% pricier in Alvechurch (£643,750 vs £321,461).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cradley Heath prices grew faster — 76% vs 38%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime rate data is not available for both Alvechurch and Cradley Heath at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in West MidlandsAlvechurch has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Cradley Heath. Alvechurch has 2 schools in total, while Cradley Heath has 7.
Alvechurch School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cradley Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Alvechurch | Cradley Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 7 |
| Primary | 1 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cradley Heath offers faster average downloads at 439.5 Mbps, compared to 416.3 Mbps in Alvechurch. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.6% of premises in Alvechurch and 99.6% in Cradley Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 81% in Alvechurch and 85% in Cradley Heath.
Cradley Heath is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (440 vs 416 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Alvechurch are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 70.1 (band C) versus 68.8 (band C) in Cradley Heath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,378 in Alvechurch and £1,116 in Cradley Heath. 61.8% of homes in Alvechurch have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.8% in Cradley Heath.
Alvechurch has more energy-efficient housing — 61.8% reach band C or above, vs 55.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,814.5 in Alvechurch and £28,800 in Cradley Heath. The median age is 47.4 in Alvechurch and 41.5 in Cradley Heath. Employment rates stand at 58.5% in Alvechurch and 54% in Cradley Heath. Owner-occupancy is 74.2% in Alvechurch versus 60.1% in Cradley Heath.
| Indicator | Alvechurch | Cradley Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,412 | 18,819 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 41.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,814.5 | £28,800 |
| Employment Rate | 58.5% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 74.2% | 60.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 38% | 23.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Alvechurch or Cradley Heath?
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