Town comparison
Astwood Bank vs Birmingham
Which is better to live in? 14.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Birmingham is about 45% cheaper on average. For families, Astwood Bank edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Astwood Bank
£384,767
Birmingham
£266,208
Crime Rate
Astwood Bank
N/A
Birmingham
114.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Astwood Bank
100.0%
Birmingham
91.9%
Avg Download Speed
Astwood Bank
222.5
Birmingham
476.4
EPC Rating
Astwood Bank
70.5
Birmingham
69.5
Median Income
Astwood Bank
£30,396
Birmingham
£31,500
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Birmingham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £266,208 versus £384,767 in Astwood Bank. The most affordable entry point in Astwood Bank is a flat at £124,500, while in Birmingham it is a flat at £174,356.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 29% pricier in Birmingham (£174,356 vs £124,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Astwood Bank prices grew faster — 28% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime rate data is not available for both Astwood Bank and Birmingham at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in West MidlandsSchool quality favours Astwood Bank: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.9% in Birmingham.
Astwood Bank School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Astwood Bank | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 2 | 378 |
| Primary | 1 | 287 |
| Secondary | 1 | 91 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 91.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birmingham enjoy 476.4 Mbps on average, while Astwood Bank lags behind at 222.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 82.4% of premises in Astwood Bank and 98.2% in Birmingham. Gigabit availability stands at 36.5% in Astwood Bank and 94.4% in Birmingham.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 114% on average download speed (476 vs 223 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Astwood Bank is band C (score 70.5), ahead of Birmingham's band C (score 69.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,278 in Astwood Bank and £1,182 in Birmingham. 65.1% of homes in Astwood Bank have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Birmingham.
Astwood Bank has more energy-efficient housing — 65.1% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Astwood Bank has a population of 3,248 while Birmingham has 1,119,786. Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £30,396 in Astwood Bank. The median age is 46 in Astwood Bank and 42.1 in Birmingham. Employment rates stand at 59% in Astwood Bank and 54% in Birmingham.
| Indicator | Astwood Bank | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,248 | 1,119,786 |
| Median Age | 46 | 42.1 |
| Median Household Income | £30,396 | £31,499.5 |
| Employment Rate | 59% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 65.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.8% | 33.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Astwood Bank and Birmingham?
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