Town comparison
Birkenhead vs Formby
Which is better to live in? 11.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Birkenhead offers lower property prices by roughly 62%. Birkenhead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Formby edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birkenhead
£154,135
Formby
£408,356
Crime Rate
Birkenhead
69.9
Formby
75.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birkenhead
72.4%
Formby
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birkenhead
480.6
Formby
458.4
EPC Rating
Birkenhead
68.2
Formby
70.8
Median Income
Birkenhead
£31,125
Formby
£29,254
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Birkenhead more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £154,135 versus £408,356 in Formby. The most affordable entry point in Birkenhead is a flat at £95,518, while in Formby it is a flat at £163,723.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 55% pricier in Formby (£270,262 vs £120,302).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Formby prices grew faster — 43% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Birkenhead (69.9 per 1,000) compared to Formby (75.9 per 1,000), a 9% difference. The most common crime category in Birkenhead is violent-crime, while in Formby 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 Formby: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 72.4% in Birkenhead.
Birkenhead School Inspection Breakdown
72.4% of 38 schools (31 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Formby School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birkenhead | Formby |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 38 | 9 |
| Primary | 31 | 7 |
| Secondary | 7 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 72.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birkenhead enjoy 480.6 Mbps on average, while Formby lags behind at 458.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.6% of premises in Birkenhead and 97.4% in Formby. Gigabit availability stands at 95.4% in Birkenhead and 90.1% in Formby.
Birkenhead is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (481 vs 458 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Formby is band C (score 70.8), ahead of Birkenhead's band C (score 68.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,226 in Birkenhead and £1,204 in Formby. 53.7% of homes in Birkenhead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Formby.
Formby has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 53.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birkenhead has a population of 109,854 while Formby has 22,892. Median household income is £31,125 in Birkenhead and £29,254 in Formby. The median age is 45.4 in Birkenhead and 46 in Formby. Employment rates stand at 53.2% in Birkenhead and 54% in Formby.
| Indicator | Birkenhead | Formby |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,854 | 22,892 |
| Median Age | 45.4 | 46 |
| Median Household Income | £31,125 | £29,254 |
| Employment Rate | 53.2% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 68.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.5% | 29.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birkenhead and Formby?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birkenhead or Formby?
Is Birkenhead or Formby safer?
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Which has faster broadband, Birkenhead or Formby?
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