Bacup vs Failsworth
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bacup offers lower property prices by roughly 15%. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Failsworth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Failsworth
£223,292
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Failsworth
106.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Failsworth
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Failsworth
478.3
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Failsworth
71.4
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Failsworth
£29,509
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Bacup more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,117 versus £223,292 in Failsworth. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Failsworth it is a terraced at £171,460.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 30% pricier in Failsworth (£171,460 vs £120,647).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Failsworth prices grew faster — 71% vs 57%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bacup (64.2 per 1,000) compared to Failsworth (106.8 per 1,000), a 66% difference. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Failsworth 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 Failsworth: 100% 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.
Failsworth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Failsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 7 |
| Primary | 6 | 6 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Failsworth enjoy 478.3 Mbps on average, while Bacup lags behind at 230.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 99.7% in Failsworth. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 94.8% in Failsworth.
Failsworth is the faster of the two by 108% on average download speed (478 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Failsworth 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 £1,101 in Failsworth. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.7% in Failsworth.
Failsworth has more energy-efficient housing — 70.7% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bacup has a population of 14,194 while Failsworth has 19,962. Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £29,509 in Failsworth. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 39.5 in Failsworth. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 52.5% in Failsworth.
| Indicator | Bacup | Failsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 19,962 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £29,509 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 52.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 60.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bacup and Failsworth?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bacup or Failsworth?
Is Bacup or Failsworth safer?
Which has better schools, Bacup or Failsworth?
Which has faster broadband, Bacup or Failsworth?
Keep exploring