Bacup vs Oldham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Bacup is about 19% cheaper on average. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bacup edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Oldham
£234,278
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Oldham
106.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Oldham
78.1%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Oldham
423.4
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Oldham
71.4
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Oldham
£29,509
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Bacup more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £190,117 versus £234,278 in Oldham. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Oldham it is a flat at £152,961.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 27% pricier in Oldham (£166,125 vs £120,647).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bacup prices grew faster — 57% vs 55%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bacup (64.2 per 1,000) compared to Oldham (106.7 per 1,000), a 66% difference. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Oldham 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 Bacup: 83.3% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 78.1% in Oldham.
Bacup School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (6 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Oldham School Inspection Breakdown
78.1% of 43 schools (37 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Oldham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 43 |
| Primary | 6 | 37 |
| Secondary | 0 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 78.1% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Oldham enjoy 423.4 Mbps on average, while Bacup lags behind at 230.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 98.3% in Oldham. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 81.7% in Oldham.
Oldham is the faster of the two by 84% on average download speed (423 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Oldham 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 Oldham. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.7% in Oldham.
Oldham 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 Oldham has 110,722. Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £29,509 in Oldham. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 39.5 in Oldham. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 52.5% in Oldham.
| Indicator | Bacup | Oldham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 110,722 |
| 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 Oldham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bacup or Oldham?
Is Bacup or Oldham safer?
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