Bacup vs Heywood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bacup offers lower property prices by roughly 46%. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Heywood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Heywood
£353,345
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Heywood
105.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Heywood
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Heywood
451.7
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Heywood
71.9
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Heywood
£28,946
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Bacup more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,117 versus £353,345 in Heywood. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Heywood it is a flat at £139,380.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 23% pricier in Heywood (£156,522 vs £120,647).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heywood prices grew faster — 197% vs 57%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bacup (64.2 per 1,000) compared to Heywood (105.4 per 1,000), a 64% difference. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Heywood 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 Heywood: 90.9% 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.
Heywood School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 12 |
| Primary | 6 | 10 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Heywood enjoy 451.7 Mbps on average, while Bacup lags behind at 230.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 96% in Heywood. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 87.6% in Heywood.
Heywood is the faster of the two by 96% on average download speed (452 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Heywood is band C (score 71.9), ahead of Bacup's band C (score 69.3). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,398 in Bacup and £1,138 in Heywood. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Heywood.
Heywood has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bacup has a population of 14,194 while Heywood has 29,724. Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £28,946 in Heywood. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 40.3 in Heywood. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 54% in Heywood.
| Indicator | Bacup | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 29,724 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 40.3 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £28,946 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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