Astley vs Widnes
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Widnes offers lower property prices by roughly 23%. Widnes has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Astley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Astley
£276,658
Widnes
£225,546
Crime Rate
Astley
92.3
Widnes
85.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Astley
100.0%
Widnes
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Astley
462
Widnes
426.2
EPC Rating
Astley
73.2
Widnes
72.4
Median Income
Astley
£30,499
Widnes
£30,888
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Widnes is £225,546, which is 23% less than Astley at £276,658. The most affordable entry point in Astley is a flat at £116,750, while in Widnes it is a flat at £101,187.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 51% pricier in Astley (£211,438 vs £139,686).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Astley prices grew faster — 34% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 85.7 offences per 1,000 people, Widnes is the safer of the two – 8% lower than Astley's 92.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Astley 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 WestAstley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Widnes. Astley has 3 schools in total, while Widnes has 20.
Astley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) 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 | Astley | Widnes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 20 |
| Primary | 2 | 17 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Astley offers faster average downloads at 462.0 Mbps, compared to 426.2 Mbps in Widnes. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Astley and 95.2% in Widnes. Gigabit availability stands at 91.5% in Astley and 83% in Widnes.
Astley is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (462 vs 426 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Astley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 73.2 (band C) versus 72.4 (band C) in Widnes. Estimated annual energy costs average £983 in Astley and £1,006 in Widnes. 74.8% of homes in Astley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.2% in Widnes.
Astley has more energy-efficient housing — 74.8% reach band C or above, vs 72.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,888.2 in Widnes and £30,499 in Astley. The median age is 40.5 in Astley and 43 in Widnes. Employment rates stand at 58.1% in Astley and 56.8% in Widnes. Owner-occupancy is 56.7% in Astley versus 63.2% in Widnes.
| Indicator | Astley | Widnes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,735 | 59,938 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 43 |
| Median Household Income | £30,499 | £30,888.2 |
| Employment Rate | 58.1% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 56.7% | 63.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.6% | 27% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Astley and Widnes?
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