Town comparison
Bamber Bridge vs Oswaldtwistle
Which is better to live in? 10.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Oswaldtwistle wins on house prices with a 61% gap. Bamber Bridge has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Oswaldtwistle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bamber Bridge
£240,197
Oswaldtwistle
£149,624
Crime Rate
Bamber Bridge
55.7
Oswaldtwistle
156.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bamber Bridge
90.0%
Oswaldtwistle
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bamber Bridge
412.3
Oswaldtwistle
442.6
EPC Rating
Bamber Bridge
72.5
Oswaldtwistle
69.1
Median Income
Bamber Bridge
£31,149
Oswaldtwistle
£29,973
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £149,624, Oswaldtwistle undercuts Bamber Bridge (£240,197) by around 61% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bamber Bridge is a flat at £109,264, while in Oswaldtwistle it is a flat at £85,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 28% pricier in Bamber Bridge (£109,264 vs £85,167).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Oswaldtwistle prices grew faster — 32% vs 10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Bamber Bridge experience less crime overall, with a rate of 55.7 per 1,000 versus 156.1 per 1,000 in Oswaldtwistle. The most common crime category in Bamber Bridge is violent-crime, while in Oswaldtwistle 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 WestOf the 16 schools in Bamber Bridge, 90% are in the top two inspection bands. In Oswaldtwistle, which has 7 schools, the figure is 100%.
Bamber Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 16 schools (13 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Oswaldtwistle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bamber Bridge | Oswaldtwistle |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 7 |
| Primary | 13 | 6 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 90% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Oswaldtwistle averages 442.6 Mbps – ahead of Bamber Bridge's 412.3 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.5% of premises in Bamber Bridge and 96.7% in Oswaldtwistle. Gigabit availability stands at 79.4% in Bamber Bridge and 85.4% in Oswaldtwistle.
Oswaldtwistle is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (443 vs 412 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bamber Bridge, scoring 72.5 on average (band C) compared to 69.1 (band C) in Oswaldtwistle. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,089 in Bamber Bridge and £1,326 in Oswaldtwistle. 69.5% of homes in Bamber Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58% in Oswaldtwistle.
Bamber Bridge has more energy-efficient housing — 69.5% reach band C or above, vs 58% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,149 in Bamber Bridge and £29,972.5 in Oswaldtwistle. The median age is 43 in Bamber Bridge and 42.5 in Oswaldtwistle. Employment rates stand at 58.5% in Bamber Bridge and 56% in Oswaldtwistle. Owner-occupancy is 68.8% in Bamber Bridge versus 65.5% in Oswaldtwistle. Bamber Bridge has a population of 40,045 and Oswaldtwistle has 10,810.
| Indicator | Bamber Bridge | Oswaldtwistle |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,045 | 10,810 |
| Median Age | 43 | 42.5 |
| Median Household Income | £31,149 | £29,972.5 |
| Employment Rate | 58.5% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.8% | 65.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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