Appley Bridge vs Widnes
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Widnes is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Widnes has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Appley Bridge edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Appley Bridge
£265,435
Widnes
£225,546
Crime Rate
Appley Bridge
92.4
Widnes
85.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Appley Bridge
100.0%
Widnes
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Appley Bridge
416.7
Widnes
426.2
EPC Rating
Appley Bridge
71.7
Widnes
72.4
Median Income
Appley Bridge
£31,457
Widnes
£30,888
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Appley Bridge commands an average of £265,435, compared with £225,546 in Widnes – a difference of 18%. The most affordable entry point in Appley Bridge is a flat at £154,500, while in Widnes it is a flat at £101,187.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 53% pricier in Appley Bridge (£154,500 vs £101,187).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Appley Bridge prices grew faster — 32% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWidnes has a crime rate of 85.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 8% lower than Appley Bridge at 92.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Appley Bridge is violent-crime, while in Widnes 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 Widnes. There are 2 schools in Appley Bridge and 20 in Widnes.
Appley Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Widnes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 20 schools (17 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Appley Bridge | Widnes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 20 |
| Primary | 2 | 17 |
| Secondary | 0 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 426.2 Mbps in Widnes and 416.7 Mbps in Appley Bridge. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Appley Bridge and 95.2% in Widnes. Gigabit availability stands at 80.8% in Appley Bridge and 83% in Widnes.
Widnes is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (426 vs 417 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Widnes, scoring 72.4 on average (band C) compared to 71.7 (band C) in Appley Bridge. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,138 in Appley Bridge and £1,006 in Widnes. 68.2% of homes in Appley Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.2% in Widnes.
Widnes has more energy-efficient housing — 72.2% reach band C or above, vs 68.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,456.7 in Appley Bridge and £30,888.2 in Widnes. The median age is 44.1 in Appley Bridge and 43 in Widnes. Employment rates stand at 57.1% in Appley Bridge and 56.8% in Widnes. Owner-occupancy is 69.7% in Appley Bridge versus 63.2% in Widnes. Appley Bridge has a population of 5,131 and Widnes has 59,938.
| Indicator | Appley Bridge | Widnes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,131 | 59,938 |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £31,456.7 | £30,888.2 |
| Employment Rate | 57.1% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.7% | 63.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.9% | 27% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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