Astley vs Heywood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Astley wins on house prices with a 22% gap. Astley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Astley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Astley
£276,658
Heywood
£353,345
Crime Rate
Astley
92.3
Heywood
105.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Astley
100.0%
Heywood
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Astley
462
Heywood
451.7
EPC Rating
Astley
73.2
Heywood
71.9
Median Income
Astley
£30,499
Heywood
£28,946
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Heywood commands an average of £353,345, compared with £276,658 in Astley – a difference of 22%. The most affordable entry point in Astley is a flat at £116,750, while in Heywood it is a flat at £139,380.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 35% pricier in Astley (£211,438 vs £156,522).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heywood prices grew faster — 197% vs 34%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Astley experience less crime overall, with a rate of 92.3 per 1,000 versus 105.4 per 1,000 in Heywood. The most common crime category in Astley is violent-crime, while in Heywood 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 Astley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 90.9% in Heywood. There are 3 schools in Astley and 12 in Heywood.
Astley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Heywood School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Astley | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 12 |
| Primary | 2 | 10 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 462.0 Mbps in Astley and 451.7 Mbps in Heywood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Astley and 96% in Heywood. Gigabit availability stands at 91.5% in Astley and 87.6% in Heywood.
Astley is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (462 vs 452 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Astley, scoring 73.2 on average (band C) compared to 71.9 (band C) in Heywood. Estimated annual energy costs average £983 in Astley and £1,138 in Heywood. 74.8% of homes in Astley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Heywood.
Astley has more energy-efficient housing — 74.8% reach band C or above, vs 71.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,499 in Astley and £28,946 in Heywood. The median age is 40.5 in Astley and 40.3 in Heywood. Employment rates stand at 58.1% in Astley and 54% in Heywood. Owner-occupancy is 56.7% in Astley versus 60.3% in Heywood. Astley has a population of 4,735 and Heywood has 29,724.
| Indicator | Astley | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,735 | 29,724 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 40.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,499 | £28,946 |
| Employment Rate | 58.1% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 56.7% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.6% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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