Town comparison
Birkenhead vs Hawarden
Which is better to live in? 13.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Birkenhead wins on house prices with a 64% gap. Hawarden has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Birkenhead
£154,135
Hawarden
£430,424
Crime Rate
Birkenhead
69.9
Hawarden
63.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birkenhead
72.4%
Hawarden
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Birkenhead
480.6
Hawarden
457
EPC Rating
Birkenhead
68.2
Hawarden
71.1
Median Income
Birkenhead
£31,125
Hawarden
£30,594
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Hawarden commands an average of £430,424, compared with £154,135 in Birkenhead – a difference of 64%. The most affordable entry point in Birkenhead is a flat at £95,518, while in Hawarden it is a terraced at £246,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 51% pricier in Hawarden (£246,000 vs £120,302).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hawarden prices grew faster — 85% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Hawarden experience less crime overall, with a rate of 63.7 per 1,000 versus 69.9 per 1,000 in Birkenhead. The most common crime category in Birkenhead is violent-crime, while in Hawarden 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 data is not fully available for both Birkenhead and Hawarden. Birkenhead has 38 schools and Hawarden has 0 schools.
Birkenhead School Inspection Breakdown
72.4% of 38 schools (31 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hawarden School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Birkenhead | Hawarden |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 38 | 0 |
| Primary | 31 | 0 |
| Secondary | 7 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 72.4% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 480.6 Mbps in Birkenhead and 457.0 Mbps in Hawarden. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.6% of premises in Birkenhead and 97.2% in Hawarden. Gigabit availability stands at 95.4% in Birkenhead and 89.4% in Hawarden.
Birkenhead is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (481 vs 457 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Hawarden leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.1 (C), while Birkenhead averages 68.2 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,226 in Birkenhead and £1,221 in Hawarden. 53.7% of homes in Birkenhead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.1% in Hawarden.
Hawarden has more energy-efficient housing — 65.1% reach band C or above, vs 53.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,125 in Birkenhead and £30,594 in Hawarden. The median age is 45.4 in Birkenhead and 44.9 in Hawarden. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Birkenhead versus 71.8% in Hawarden. Employment rates stand at 53.2% in Birkenhead and 57.9% in Hawarden.
| Indicator | Birkenhead | Hawarden |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,854 | 12,590 |
| Median Age | 45.4 | 44.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,125 | £30,594 |
| Employment Rate | 53.2% | 57.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 71.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.5% | 29.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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