Birkenhead vs Helsby
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Birkenhead offers lower property prices by roughly 38%. Helsby has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Helsby edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birkenhead
£154,135
Helsby
£250,268
Crime Rate
Birkenhead
69.9
Helsby
66.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birkenhead
72.4%
Helsby
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birkenhead
480.6
Helsby
392.4
EPC Rating
Birkenhead
68.2
Helsby
71.5
Median Income
Birkenhead
£31,125
Helsby
£31,498
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Birkenhead more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £154,135 versus £250,268 in Helsby. The most affordable entry point in Birkenhead is a flat at £95,518, while in Helsby it is a flat at £91,833.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 43% pricier in Helsby (£211,104 vs £120,302).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birkenhead prices grew faster — 27% vs 26%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Helsby (66.5 per 1,000) compared to Birkenhead (69.9 per 1,000), a 5% difference. The most common crime category in Birkenhead is violent-crime, while in Helsby 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 Helsby: 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.
Helsby School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birkenhead | Helsby |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 38 | 3 |
| Primary | 31 | 2 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 72.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birkenhead enjoy 480.6 Mbps on average, while Helsby lags behind at 392.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.6% of premises in Birkenhead and 88% in Helsby. Gigabit availability stands at 95.4% in Birkenhead and 76% in Helsby.
Birkenhead is the faster of the two by 22% on average download speed (481 vs 392 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Helsby is band C (score 71.5), ahead of Birkenhead's band C (score 68.2). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,226 in Birkenhead and £1,103 in Helsby. 53.7% of homes in Birkenhead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 72.1% in Helsby.
Helsby has more energy-efficient housing — 72.1% reach band C or above, vs 53.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birkenhead has a population of 109,854 while Helsby has 5,278. Median household income is £31,498 in Helsby and £31,125 in Birkenhead. The median age is 45.4 in Birkenhead and 45 in Helsby. Employment rates stand at 53.2% in Birkenhead and 57.2% in Helsby.
| Indicator | Birkenhead | Helsby |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,854 | 5,278 |
| Median Age | 45.4 | 45 |
| Median Household Income | £31,125 | £31,498 |
| Employment Rate | 53.2% | 57.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.5% | 35.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birkenhead and Helsby?
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