Appley Bridge vs Blackrod
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.5 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Blackrod wins on house prices with a 22% gap. Appley Bridge has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Appley Bridge edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Appley Bridge
£265,435
Blackrod
£218,151
Crime Rate
Appley Bridge
92.4
Blackrod
98.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Appley Bridge
100.0%
Blackrod
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Appley Bridge
416.7
Blackrod
430.5
EPC Rating
Appley Bridge
71.7
Blackrod
72.2
Median Income
Appley Bridge
£31,457
Blackrod
£30,334
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Appley Bridge commands an average of £265,435, compared with £218,151 in Blackrod – a difference of 22%. The most affordable entry point in Appley Bridge is a flat at £154,500, while in Blackrod it is a flat at £132,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 25% pricier in Appley Bridge (£412,500 vs £329,077).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Blackrod prices grew faster — 47% vs 32%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Appley Bridge experience less crime overall, with a rate of 92.4 per 1,000 versus 98.7 per 1,000 in Blackrod. The most common crime category in Appley Bridge is violent-crime, while in Blackrod 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 Appley Bridge, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Blackrod. There are 2 schools in Appley Bridge and 2 in Blackrod.
Appley Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Blackrod School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Appley Bridge | Blackrod |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 2 |
| Primary | 2 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 430.5 Mbps in Blackrod and 416.7 Mbps in Appley Bridge. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Appley Bridge and 94.3% in Blackrod. Gigabit availability stands at 80.8% in Appley Bridge and 83.4% in Blackrod.
Blackrod is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (431 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Blackrod, scoring 72.2 on average (band C) compared to 71.7 (band C) in Appley Bridge. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,138 in Appley Bridge and £1,110 in Blackrod. 68.2% of homes in Appley Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.6% in Blackrod.
Blackrod has more energy-efficient housing — 69.6% reach band C or above, vs 68.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,456.7 in Appley Bridge and £30,333.5 in Blackrod. The median age is 44.1 in Appley Bridge and 42.5 in Blackrod. Employment rates stand at 57.1% in Appley Bridge and 56.7% in Blackrod. Owner-occupancy is 69.7% in Appley Bridge versus 66.8% in Blackrod. Appley Bridge has a population of 5,131 and Blackrod has 5,340.
| Indicator | Appley Bridge | Blackrod |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,131 | 5,340 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £31,456.7 | £30,333.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.1% | 56.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.7% | 66.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 30.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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