Town comparison
Biddulph vs Holmes Chapel
Which is better to live in? 9.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Biddulph is about 38% cheaper on average. Biddulph has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Biddulph edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Biddulph
£216,454
Holmes Chapel
£351,747
Crime Rate
Biddulph
55.5
Holmes Chapel
59.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Biddulph
100.0%
Holmes Chapel
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Biddulph
353.2
Holmes Chapel
437.9
EPC Rating
Biddulph
69
Holmes Chapel
71.2
Median Income
Biddulph
£28,469
Holmes Chapel
£31,749
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Biddulph more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £216,454 versus £351,747 in Holmes Chapel. The most affordable entry point in Biddulph is a terraced at £157,120, while in Holmes Chapel it is a flat at £116,105.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 59% pricier in Biddulph (£185,064 vs £116,105).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Biddulph prices grew faster — 33% vs 1%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 55.5 offences per 1,000 people, Biddulph is the safer of the two – 7% lower than Holmes Chapel's 59.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Biddulph is violent-crime, while in Holmes Chapel 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 West MidlandsSchool quality favours Biddulph: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Holmes Chapel.
Biddulph School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (5 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Holmes Chapel School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Biddulph | Holmes Chapel |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 8 | 3 |
| Primary | 5 | 2 |
| Secondary | 3 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Holmes Chapel enjoy 437.9 Mbps on average, while Biddulph lags behind at 353.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.3% of premises in Biddulph and 96.5% in Holmes Chapel. Gigabit availability stands at 63.1% in Biddulph and 85.2% in Holmes Chapel.
Holmes Chapel is the faster of the two by 24% on average download speed (438 vs 353 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Holmes Chapel is band C (score 71.2), ahead of Biddulph's band C (score 69). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,270 in Biddulph and £1,176 in Holmes Chapel. 59.5% of homes in Biddulph have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Holmes Chapel.
Holmes Chapel has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 59.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Biddulph has a population of 17,490 while Holmes Chapel has 6,949. Median household income is £31,749 in Holmes Chapel and £28,469 in Biddulph. The median age is 44.8 in Biddulph and 45.5 in Holmes Chapel. Employment rates stand at 55.2% in Biddulph and 57.8% in Holmes Chapel.
| Indicator | Biddulph | Holmes Chapel |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,490 | 6,949 |
| Median Age | 44.8 | 45.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,469 | £31,749 |
| Employment Rate | 55.2% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.5% | 70.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25.1% | 36.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Biddulph and Holmes Chapel?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Biddulph or Holmes Chapel?
Is Biddulph or Holmes Chapel safer?
Which has better schools, Biddulph or Holmes Chapel?
Which has faster broadband, Biddulph or Holmes Chapel?
Keep exploring