Bacup vs Royton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bacup offers lower property prices by roughly 21%. Bacup has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bacup edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bacup
£190,117
Royton
£240,896
Crime Rate
Bacup
64.2
Royton
106.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bacup
83.3%
Royton
77.8%
Avg Download Speed
Bacup
230
Royton
469.7
EPC Rating
Bacup
69.3
Royton
71.6
Median Income
Bacup
£30,420
Royton
£29,228
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Bacup is £190,117, which is 21% less than Royton at £240,896. The most affordable entry point in Bacup is a terraced at £120,647, while in Royton it is a flat at £133,177.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 31% pricier in Royton (£174,753 vs £120,647).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bacup prices grew faster — 57% vs 51%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bacup (64.2 per 1,000) compared to Royton (106.8 per 1,000), a 66% difference. The most common crime category in Bacup is violent-crime, while in Royton 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 WestBacup has 83.3% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 77.8% in Royton. Bacup has 6 schools in total, while Royton has 11.
Bacup School Inspection Breakdown
83.3% of 6 schools (6 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Royton School Inspection Breakdown
77.8% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bacup | Royton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 11 |
| Primary | 6 | 8 |
| Secondary | 0 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 83.3% | 77.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Royton offers faster average downloads at 469.7 Mbps, compared to 230.0 Mbps in Bacup. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.2% of premises in Bacup and 98.7% in Royton. Gigabit availability stands at 23.4% in Bacup and 91.8% in Royton.
Royton is the faster of the two by 104% on average download speed (470 vs 230 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Royton are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.6 (band C) versus 69.3 (band C) in Bacup. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,398 in Bacup and £1,120 in Royton. 59.9% of homes in Bacup have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71% in Royton.
Royton has more energy-efficient housing — 71% reach band C or above, vs 59.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,420 in Bacup and £29,227.5 in Royton. The median age is 43.3 in Bacup and 39.9 in Royton. Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Bacup and 53.2% in Royton. Owner-occupancy is 67.9% in Bacup versus 60.3% in Royton.
| Indicator | Bacup | Royton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,194 | 22,997 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 39.9 |
| Median Household Income | £30,420 | £29,227.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 53.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.9% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.7% | 25.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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