Atherton vs Heywood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Atherton offers lower property prices by roughly 46%. Atherton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Atherton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Atherton
£190,266
Heywood
£353,345
Crime Rate
Atherton
92.3
Heywood
105.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Atherton
100.0%
Heywood
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Atherton
463.3
Heywood
451.7
EPC Rating
Atherton
71.4
Heywood
71.9
Median Income
Atherton
£29,107
Heywood
£28,946
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Atherton is £190,266, which is 46% less than Heywood at £353,345. The most affordable entry point in Atherton is a flat at £118,767, while in Heywood it is a flat at £139,380.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 15% pricier in Heywood (£139,380 vs £118,767).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heywood prices grew faster — 197% vs -12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 92.3 offences per 1,000 people, Atherton is the safer of the two – 14% lower than Heywood's 105.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Atherton is violent-crime, while in Heywood 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 90.9% in Heywood. Atherton has 11 schools in total, while Heywood has 12.
Atherton School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 11 schools (10 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Heywood School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Atherton | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 11 | 12 |
| Primary | 10 | 10 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Atherton offers faster average downloads at 463.3 Mbps, compared to 451.7 Mbps in Heywood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.4% of premises in Atherton and 96% in Heywood. Gigabit availability stands at 91.3% in Atherton and 87.6% in Heywood.
Atherton is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (463 vs 452 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Heywood are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.9 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Atherton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,087 in Atherton and £1,138 in Heywood. 66.6% of homes in Atherton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Heywood.
Heywood has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,107 in Atherton and £28,946 in Heywood. The median age is 41.9 in Atherton and 40.3 in Heywood. Employment rates stand at 55.8% in Atherton and 54% in Heywood. Owner-occupancy is 64% in Atherton versus 60.3% in Heywood.
| Indicator | Atherton | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,321 | 29,724 |
| Median Age | 41.9 | 40.3 |
| Median Household Income | £29,107 | £28,946 |
| Employment Rate | 55.8% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 64% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.6% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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