Town comparison
Birkenhead vs Liverpool
Which is better to live in? 4.8 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 36% gap. Birkenhead has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Liverpool edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birkenhead
£154,135
Liverpool
£242,146
Crime Rate
Birkenhead
69.9
Liverpool
123.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birkenhead
72.4%
Liverpool
88.7%
Avg Download Speed
Birkenhead
480.6
Liverpool
348.9
EPC Rating
Birkenhead
68.2
Liverpool
71.2
Median Income
Birkenhead
£31,125
Liverpool
£28,521
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestAt £154,135, Birkenhead undercuts Liverpool (£242,146) by around 36% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Birkenhead is a flat at £95,518, while in Liverpool it is a flat at £146,914.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 35% pricier in Liverpool (£146,914 vs £95,518).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Liverpool prices grew faster — 45% vs 27%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestResidents of Birkenhead experience less crime overall, with a rate of 69.9 per 1,000 versus 123.5 per 1,000 in Liverpool. The most common crime category in Birkenhead is violent-crime, while in Liverpool 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 WestOf the 38 schools in Birkenhead, 72.4% are in the top two inspection bands. In Liverpool, which has 155 schools, the figure is 88.7%.
Birkenhead School Inspection Breakdown
72.4% of 38 schools (31 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Liverpool School Inspection Breakdown
88.7% of 155 schools (121 primary, 34 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birkenhead | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 38 | 155 |
| Primary | 31 | 121 |
| Secondary | 7 | 34 |
| % Top two bands | 72.4% | 88.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Birkenhead averages 480.6 Mbps – ahead of Liverpool's 348.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.6% of premises in Birkenhead and 75.4% in Liverpool. Gigabit availability stands at 95.4% in Birkenhead and 56.1% in Liverpool.
Birkenhead is the faster of the two by 38% on average download speed (481 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Liverpool, scoring 71.2 on average (band C) compared to 68.2 (band C) in Birkenhead. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,226 in Birkenhead and £1,072 in Liverpool. 53.7% of homes in Birkenhead have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.1% in Liverpool.
Liverpool has more energy-efficient housing — 69.1% reach band C or above, vs 53.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,125 in Birkenhead and £28,520.5 in Liverpool. The median age is 45.4 in Birkenhead and 43.3 in Liverpool. Employment rates stand at 53.2% in Birkenhead and 52.4% in Liverpool. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Birkenhead versus 56.7% in Liverpool. Birkenhead has a population of 109,854 and Liverpool has 506,768.
| Indicator | Birkenhead | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 109,854 | 506,768 |
| Median Age | 45.4 | 43.3 |
| Median Household Income | £31,125 | £28,520.5 |
| Employment Rate | 53.2% | 52.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 56.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.5% | 30.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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