Bacup vs Hebden Bridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Bacup is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 37% lower. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Hebden Bridge edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Hebden Bridge
£299,498
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Hebden Bridge
106.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Hebden Bridge
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Hebden Bridge
111.8
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Hebden Bridge
68.5
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Hebden Bridge
£30,125
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Hebden Bridge commands an average of £299,498, compared with £190,117 in Bacup – a difference of 37%. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Hebden Bridge it is a terraced at £253,150.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 52% pricier in Hebden Bridge (£253,150 vs £120,647).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bacup prices grew faster — 57% vs 53%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestBacup has a crime rate of 64.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 66% lower than Hebden Bridge at 106.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Hebden Bridge 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 Hebden Bridge, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 83.3% in Bacup. There are 6 schools in Bacup and 5 in Hebden Bridge.
Bacup School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (6 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hebden Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (5 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Hebden Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 5 |
| Primary | 6 | 5 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 230.0 Mbps in Bacup and 111.8 Mbps in Hebden Bridge. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 86.8% in Hebden Bridge. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 9.5% in Hebden Bridge.
Bacup is the faster of the two by 106% on average download speed (230 vs 112 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bacup, scoring 69.3 on average (band C) compared to 68.5 (band C) in Hebden Bridge. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,398 in Bacup and £1,335 in Hebden Bridge. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.1% in Hebden Bridge.
Bacup has more energy-efficient housing — 59.9% reach band C or above, vs 55.1% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £30,125 in Hebden Bridge. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 43.2 in Hebden Bridge. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 56% in Hebden Bridge. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Bacup versus 64.6% in Hebden Bridge. Bacup has a population of 14,194 and Hebden Bridge has 5,002.
| Indicator | Bacup | Hebden Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 5,002 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 43.2 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £30,125 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 64.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 30.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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