Bacup vs Bolton (Bolton)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bacup offers lower property prices by roughly 27%. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bolton (bolton) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Bolton (Bolton)
£261,398
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Bolton (Bolton)
98.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Bolton (Bolton)
96.5%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Bolton (Bolton)
437.3
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Bolton (Bolton)
71.4
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Bolton (Bolton)
£27,821
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Bacup more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,117 versus £261,398 in Bolton (bolton). The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Bolton (bolton) it is a flat at £133,932.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 27% pricier in Bolton (bolton) (£241,586 vs £176,447).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bacup prices grew faster — 57% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 64.2 offences per 1,000 people, Bacup is the safer of the two – 53% lower than Bolton (bolton)'s 98.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Bolton (bolton) 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 Bolton (bolton): 96.5% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 83.3% in Bacup.
Bacup School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (6 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bolton (Bolton) School Inspection Breakdown
96.5% of 72 schools (60 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Bolton (Bolton) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 72 |
| Primary | 6 | 60 |
| Secondary | 0 | 12 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 96.5% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Bolton (bolton) enjoy 437.3 Mbps on average, while Bacup lags behind at 230.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 96.1% in Bolton (bolton). Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 83.2% in Bolton (bolton).
Bolton (bolton) is the faster of the two by 90% on average download speed (437 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bolton (bolton) is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Bacup's band C (score 69.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,398 in Bacup and £1,126 in Bolton (bolton). 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.2% in Bolton (bolton).
Bolton (bolton) has more energy-efficient housing — 66.2% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bacup has a population of 14,194 while Bolton (bolton) has 184,618. Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £27,821 in Bolton (bolton). The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 40.8 in Bolton (bolton). Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 54% in Bolton (bolton).
| Indicator | Bacup | Bolton (Bolton) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 184,618 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 40.8 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £27,821 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 61.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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