Appley Bridge vs Horwich
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Horwich is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 15% lower. 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
Horwich
£231,060
Crime Rate
Appley Bridge
92.4
Horwich
98.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Appley Bridge
100.0%
Horwich
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Appley Bridge
416.7
Horwich
430.5
EPC Rating
Appley Bridge
71.7
Horwich
72.2
Median Income
Appley Bridge
£31,457
Horwich
£30,334
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £231,060, Horwich undercuts Appley Bridge (£265,435) by around 15% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Appley Bridge is a flat at £154,500, while in Horwich it is a flat at £125,800.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 23% pricier in Appley Bridge (£154,500 vs £125,800).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Horwich prices grew faster — 54% vs 32%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestAppley Bridge has a crime rate of 92.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 6% lower than Horwich at 98.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Appley Bridge is violent-crime, while in Horwich 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 WestOf the 2 schools in Appley Bridge, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Horwich, which has 7 schools, the figure is 100%.
Appley Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Horwich School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Appley Bridge | Horwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 7 |
| Primary | 2 | 6 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Horwich averages 430.5 Mbps – ahead of Appley Bridge's 416.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Appley Bridge and 94.3% in Horwich. Gigabit availability stands at 80.8% in Appley Bridge and 83.4% in Horwich.
Horwich is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (431 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Horwich, 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 Horwich. 68.2% of homes in Appley Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.6% in Horwich.
Horwich 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 Horwich. The median age is 44.1 in Appley Bridge and 42.5 in Horwich. Employment rates stand at 57.1% in Appley Bridge and 56.7% in Horwich. Owner-occupancy is 69.7% in Appley Bridge versus 66.8% in Horwich. Appley Bridge has a population of 5,131 and Horwich has 20,703.
| Indicator | Appley Bridge | Horwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,131 | 20,703 |
| 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
How far apart are Appley Bridge and Horwich?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Appley Bridge or Horwich?
Is Appley Bridge or Horwich safer?
Which has better schools, Appley Bridge or Horwich?
Which has faster broadband, Appley Bridge or Horwich?
Keep exploring