Atherton vs Haydock
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Haydock offers lower property prices by roughly 12%. Haydock has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Atherton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Atherton
£190,266
Haydock
£170,063
Crime Rate
Atherton
92.3
Haydock
86.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Atherton
100.0%
Haydock
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Atherton
463.3
Haydock
405.8
EPC Rating
Atherton
71.4
Haydock
71.4
Median Income
Atherton
£29,107
Haydock
£30,673
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Haydock more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £170,063 versus £190,266 in Atherton. The most affordable entry point in Atherton is a flat at £118,767, while in Haydock it is a flat at £82,714.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 44% pricier in Atherton (£118,767 vs £82,714).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Haydock prices grew faster — 13% vs -12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 86.8 offences per 1,000 people, Haydock is the safer of the two – 6% lower than Atherton's 92.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Atherton is violent-crime, while in Haydock 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 WestSchool quality favours Atherton: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Haydock.
Atherton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (10 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Haydock School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Atherton | Haydock |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 11 | 5 |
| Primary | 10 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Atherton enjoy 463.3 Mbps on average, while Haydock lags behind at 405.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Atherton and 89.7% in Haydock. Gigabit availability stands at 91.3% in Atherton and 79.1% in Haydock.
Atherton is the faster of the two by 14% on average download speed (463 vs 406 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Atherton is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Haydock's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,087 in Atherton and £1,140 in Haydock. 66.6% of homes in Atherton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.6% in Haydock.
Haydock has more energy-efficient housing — 67.6% reach band C or above, vs 66.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Atherton has a population of 27,321 while Haydock has 16,143. Median household income is £30,673 in Haydock and £29,107 in Atherton. The median age is 41.9 in Atherton and 44.6 in Haydock. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Atherton and 54.7% in Haydock.
| Indicator | Atherton | Haydock |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,321 | 16,143 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 44.6 |
| Median Household Income | £29,107 | £30,673 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 54.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 64% | 67.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.6% | 28.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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Is Atherton or Haydock safer?
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