Atherton vs Burtonwood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Atherton offers lower property prices by roughly 18%. Burtonwood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Atherton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Atherton
£190,266
Burtonwood
£233,244
Crime Rate
Atherton
92.3
Burtonwood
69.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Atherton
100.0%
Burtonwood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Atherton
463.3
Burtonwood
446.5
EPC Rating
Atherton
71.4
Burtonwood
72
Median Income
Atherton
£29,107
Burtonwood
£31,331
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Atherton is £190,266, which is 18% less than Burtonwood at £233,244. The most affordable entry point in Atherton is a flat at £118,767, while in Burtonwood it is a flat at £124,950.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 11% pricier in Burtonwood (£378,833 vs £337,040).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Burtonwood prices grew faster — 51% vs -12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 69.1 offences per 1,000 people, Burtonwood is the safer of the two – 34% lower than Atherton's 92.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Atherton is violent-crime, while in Burtonwood 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 WestAtherton has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Burtonwood. Atherton has 11 schools in total, while Burtonwood has 2.
Atherton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (10 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Burtonwood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Atherton | Burtonwood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 11 | 2 |
| Primary | 10 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Atherton offers faster average downloads at 463.3 Mbps, compared to 446.5 Mbps in Burtonwood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Atherton and 96.4% in Burtonwood. Gigabit availability stands at 91.3% in Atherton and 87.3% in Burtonwood.
Atherton is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (463 vs 447 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Burtonwood are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Atherton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,087 in Atherton and £1,030 in Burtonwood. 66.6% of homes in Atherton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.9% in Burtonwood.
Burtonwood has more energy-efficient housing — 69.9% reach band C or above, vs 66.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,330.5 in Burtonwood and £29,107 in Atherton. The median age is 41.9 in Atherton and 43.9 in Burtonwood. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Atherton and 57.3% in Burtonwood. Owner-occupancy is 64% in Atherton versus 66.5% in Burtonwood.
| Indicator | Atherton | Burtonwood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,321 | 3,504 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 43.9 |
| Median Household Income | £29,107 | £31,330.5 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 57.3% |
| Owner Occupied | 64% | 66.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.6% | 30.1% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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