Atherton vs Failsworth
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Atherton offers lower property prices by roughly 15%. Atherton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Atherton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Atherton
£190,266
Failsworth
£223,292
Crime Rate
Atherton
92.3
Failsworth
106.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Atherton
100.0%
Failsworth
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Atherton
463.3
Failsworth
478.3
EPC Rating
Atherton
71.4
Failsworth
71.4
Median Income
Atherton
£29,107
Failsworth
£29,509
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Atherton is £190,266, which is 15% less than Failsworth at £223,292. The most affordable entry point in Atherton is a flat at £118,767, while in Failsworth it is a terraced at £171,460.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 38% pricier in Failsworth (£192,838 vs £118,767).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Failsworth prices grew faster — 71% vs -12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Atherton (92.3 per 1,000) compared to Failsworth (106.8 per 1,000), a 16% difference. The most common crime category in Atherton is violent-crime, while in Failsworth 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 Failsworth. Atherton has 11 schools in total, while Failsworth has 7.
Atherton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (10 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Failsworth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Atherton | Failsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 11 | 7 |
| Primary | 10 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Failsworth offers faster average downloads at 478.3 Mbps, compared to 463.3 Mbps in Atherton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Atherton and 99.7% in Failsworth. Gigabit availability stands at 91.3% in Atherton and 94.8% in Failsworth.
Failsworth is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (478 vs 463 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Atherton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Failsworth. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,087 in Atherton and £1,101 in Failsworth. 66.6% of homes in Atherton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.7% in Failsworth.
Failsworth has more energy-efficient housing — 70.7% reach band C or above, vs 66.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,509 in Failsworth and £29,107 in Atherton. The median age is 41.9 in Atherton and 39.5 in Failsworth. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Atherton and 52.5% in Failsworth. Owner-occupancy is 64% in Atherton versus 60.4% in Failsworth.
| Indicator | Atherton | Failsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,321 | 19,962 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £29,107 | £29,509 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 52.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64% | 60.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.6% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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