Bacup vs Brierfield
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.7 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Brierfield wins on house prices with a 16% gap. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brierfield edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Brierfield
£163,344
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Brierfield
82.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Brierfield
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Brierfield
445.5
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Brierfield
69.2
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Brierfield
£29,992
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Bacup commands an average of £190,117, compared with £163,344 in Brierfield – a difference of 16%. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Brierfield it is a terraced at £104,078.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 27% pricier in Bacup (£336,056 vs £263,609).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brierfield prices grew faster — 77% vs 57%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Bacup experience less crime overall, with a rate of 64.2 per 1,000 versus 82.3 per 1,000 in Brierfield. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Brierfield 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 WestFamilies may prefer Brierfield, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Bacup. There are 6 schools in Bacup and 4 in Brierfield.
Bacup School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (6 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brierfield School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Brierfield |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 4 |
| Primary | 6 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 445.5 Mbps in Brierfield and 230.0 Mbps in Bacup. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 96.4% in Brierfield. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 87.4% in Brierfield.
Brierfield is the faster of the two by 94% on average download speed (446 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bacup, scoring 69.3 on average (band C) compared to 69.2 (band C) in Brierfield. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,398 in Bacup and £1,386 in Brierfield. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.6% in Brierfield.
Bacup has more energy-efficient housing — 59.9% reach band C or above, vs 55.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £29,992 in Brierfield. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 44.5 in Brierfield. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 55.9% in Brierfield. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Bacup versus 70.2% in Brierfield. Bacup has a population of 14,194 and Brierfield has 10,723.
| Indicator | Bacup | Brierfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 10,723 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £29,992 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 55.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 70.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bacup and Brierfield?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bacup or Brierfield?
Is Bacup or Brierfield safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Bacup or Brierfield?
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