Bamber Bridge vs Penwortham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 2.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bamber Bridge offers lower property prices by roughly 1%. Penwortham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Penwortham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bamber Bridge
£240,197
Penwortham
£242,086
Crime Rate
Bamber Bridge
55.7
Penwortham
55.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bamber Bridge
90.0%
Penwortham
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Bamber Bridge
412.3
Penwortham
385.2
EPC Rating
Bamber Bridge
72.5
Penwortham
72.2
Median Income
Bamber Bridge
£31,149
Penwortham
£30,301
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Bamber Bridge is £240,197, which is 1% less than Penwortham at £242,086. The most affordable entry point in Bamber Bridge is a flat at £109,264, while in Penwortham it is a flat at £116,656.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 17% pricier in Penwortham (£358,620 vs £298,850).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Penwortham prices grew faster — 34% vs 10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 55.6 offences per 1,000 people, Penwortham is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Bamber Bridge's 55.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bamber Bridge is violent-crime, while in Penwortham 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 WestPenwortham has 90.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90% in Bamber Bridge. Bamber Bridge has 16 schools in total, while Penwortham has 11.
Bamber Bridge School Inspection Breakdown
90% of 16 schools (13 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Penwortham School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bamber Bridge | Penwortham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 16 | 11 |
| Primary | 13 | 8 |
| Secondary | 3 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 90% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bamber Bridge offers faster average downloads at 412.3 Mbps, compared to 385.2 Mbps in Penwortham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.5% of premises in Bamber Bridge and 96.7% in Penwortham. Gigabit availability stands at 79.4% in Bamber Bridge and 72.9% in Penwortham.
Bamber Bridge is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (412 vs 385 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bamber Bridge are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.5 (band C) versus 72.2 (band C) in Penwortham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,089 in Bamber Bridge and £1,086 in Penwortham. 69.5% of homes in Bamber Bridge have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.8% in Penwortham.
Bamber Bridge has more energy-efficient housing — 69.5% reach band C or above, vs 67.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,149 in Bamber Bridge and £30,300.5 in Penwortham. The median age is 43 in Bamber Bridge and 42.4 in Penwortham. Employment rates stand at 58.5% in Bamber Bridge and 58% in Penwortham. Owner-occupancy is 68.8% in Bamber Bridge versus 67.2% in Penwortham.
| Indicator | Bamber Bridge | Penwortham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,045 | 20,489 |
| Median Age | 43 | 42.4 |
| Median Household Income | £31,149 | £30,300.5 |
| Employment Rate | 58.5% | 58% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.8% | 67.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 31.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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