Backwell vs Midsomer Norton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Midsomer Norton offers lower property prices by roughly 65%. Midsomer Norton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Backwell edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Backwell
£540,691
Midsomer Norton
£328,420
Crime Rate
Backwell
82.4
Midsomer Norton
78.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Backwell
100.0%
Midsomer Norton
85.7%
Avg Download Speed
Backwell
409.8
Midsomer Norton
355.1
EPC Rating
Backwell
71.4
Midsomer Norton
68.6
Median Income
Backwell
£32,795
Midsomer Norton
£29,497
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South WestThe average house price in Midsomer Norton is £328,420, which is 65% less than Backwell at £540,691. The most affordable entry point in Backwell is a flat at £216,250, while in Midsomer Norton it is a flat at £154,562.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 61% pricier in Backwell (£683,746 vs £423,380).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Backwell prices grew faster — 41% vs 40%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South WestCrime is lower in Midsomer Norton (78.8 per 1,000) compared to Backwell (82.4 per 1,000), a 5% difference. The most common crime category in Backwell is violent-crime, while in Midsomer Norton 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 South WestBackwell has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 85.7% in Midsomer Norton. Backwell has 3 schools in total, while Midsomer Norton has 8.
Backwell School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Midsomer Norton School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 8 schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Backwell | Midsomer Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 8 |
| Primary | 2 | 6 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 85.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Backwell offers faster average downloads at 409.8 Mbps, compared to 355.1 Mbps in Midsomer Norton. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 88.7% of premises in Backwell and 87.4% in Midsomer Norton. Gigabit availability stands at 80.3% in Backwell and 65.3% in Midsomer Norton.
Backwell is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (410 vs 355 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Backwell are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 68.6 (band C) in Midsomer Norton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,179 in Backwell and £1,342 in Midsomer Norton. 65.2% of homes in Backwell have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.4% in Midsomer Norton.
Backwell has more energy-efficient housing — 65.2% reach band C or above, vs 58.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,795 in Backwell and £29,496.6 in Midsomer Norton. The median age is 46.9 in Backwell and 46.5 in Midsomer Norton. Employment rates stand at 57.5% in Backwell and 56.5% in Midsomer Norton. Owner-occupancy is 71.6% in Backwell versus 67.1% in Midsomer Norton.
| Indicator | Backwell | Midsomer Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,347 | 13,749 |
| Median Age | 46.9 | 46.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,795 | £29,496.6 |
| Employment Rate | 57.5% | 56.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.6% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.9% | 32.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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