Appley Bridge vs Atherton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Atherton is about 40% cheaper on average. Atherton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Appley Bridge edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Appley Bridge
£265,435
Atherton
£190,266
Crime Rate
Appley Bridge
92.4
Atherton
92.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Appley Bridge
100.0%
Atherton
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Appley Bridge
416.7
Atherton
463.3
EPC Rating
Appley Bridge
71.7
Atherton
71.4
Median Income
Appley Bridge
£31,457
Atherton
£29,107
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Atherton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,266 versus £265,435 in Appley Bridge. The most affordable entry point in Appley Bridge is a flat at £154,500, while in Atherton it is a flat at £118,767.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 30% pricier in Appley Bridge (£154,500 vs £118,767).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Appley Bridge prices grew faster — 32% vs -12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 92.3 offences per 1,000 people, Atherton is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Appley Bridge's 92.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Appley Bridge is violent-crime, while in Atherton 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 Appley Bridge: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Atherton.
Appley Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Atherton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (10 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Appley Bridge | Atherton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 11 |
| Primary | 2 | 10 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Atherton enjoy 463.3 Mbps on average, while Appley Bridge lags behind at 416.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Appley Bridge and 99.4% in Atherton. Gigabit availability stands at 80.8% in Appley Bridge and 91.3% in Atherton.
Atherton is the faster of the two by 11% on average download speed (463 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Appley Bridge is band C (score 71.7), ahead of Atherton's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,138 in Appley Bridge and £1,087 in Atherton. 68.2% of homes in Appley Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.6% in Atherton.
Appley Bridge has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 66.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Appley Bridge has a population of 5,131 while Atherton has 27,321. Median household income is £31,456.7 in Appley Bridge and £29,107 in Atherton. The median age is 44.1 in Appley Bridge and 41.9 in Atherton. Employment rates stand at 57.1% in Appley Bridge and 55.8% in Atherton.
| Indicator | Appley Bridge | Atherton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,131 | 27,321 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 41.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,456.7 | £29,107 |
| Employment Rate | 57.1% | 55.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.7% | 64% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 26.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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