Audenshaw vs Meltham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Audenshaw is about 19% cheaper on average. Meltham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Meltham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Audenshaw
£238,857
Meltham
£295,074
Crime Rate
Audenshaw
95.2
Meltham
89.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Audenshaw
75.0%
Meltham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Audenshaw
467.6
Meltham
351
EPC Rating
Audenshaw
70.5
Meltham
69.4
Median Income
Audenshaw
£29,140
Meltham
£29,765
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Audenshaw more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £238,857 versus £295,074 in Meltham. The most affordable entry point in Audenshaw is a flat at £142,357, while in Meltham it is a flat at £195,750.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 27% pricier in Meltham (£195,750 vs £142,357).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Meltham prices grew faster — 45% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 89.1 offences per 1,000 people, Meltham is the safer of the two – 7% lower than Audenshaw's 95.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Audenshaw is violent-crime, while in Meltham 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 Meltham: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 75% in Audenshaw.
Audenshaw School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Meltham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Audenshaw | Meltham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 75% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Audenshaw enjoy 467.6 Mbps on average, while Meltham lags behind at 351.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98% of premises in Audenshaw and 90.2% in Meltham. Gigabit availability stands at 90.3% in Audenshaw and 65.9% in Meltham.
Audenshaw is the faster of the two by 33% on average download speed (468 vs 351 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Audenshaw is band C (score 70.5), ahead of Meltham's band C (score 69.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,073 in Audenshaw and £1,178 in Meltham. 69.2% of homes in Audenshaw have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.2% in Meltham.
Audenshaw has more energy-efficient housing — 69.2% reach band C or above, vs 56.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Audenshaw has a population of 13,397 while Meltham has 8,325. Median household income is £29,765 in Meltham and £29,140 in Audenshaw. The median age is 41.8 in Audenshaw and 42.6 in Meltham. Employment rates stand at 57.1% in Audenshaw and 55.4% in Meltham.
| Indicator | Audenshaw | Meltham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,397 | 8,325 |
| Median Age | 41.8 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £29,140 | £29,765 |
| Employment Rate | 57.1% | 55.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.8% | 63.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 24.4% | 26.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Audenshaw and Meltham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Audenshaw or Meltham?
Is Audenshaw or Meltham safer?
Which has better schools, Audenshaw or Meltham?
Which has faster broadband, Audenshaw or Meltham?
Keep exploring