Birmingham vs Blackheath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Birmingham wins on house prices with a 70% gap. Blackheath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blackheath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Blackheath
£894,432
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Blackheath
95.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Blackheath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Blackheath
439.4
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Blackheath
68.8
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Blackheath
£28,800
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsProperty in Blackheath commands an average of £894,432, compared with £266,208 in Birmingham – a difference of 70%. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Blackheath it is a flat at £629,111.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 72% pricier in Blackheath (£629,111 vs £174,356).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birmingham prices grew faster — 25% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsResidents of Blackheath experience less crime overall, with a rate of 95.1 per 1,000 versus 114.1 per 1,000 in Birmingham. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Blackheath 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Blackheath, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 91.9% in Birmingham. There are 378 schools in Birmingham and 1 in Blackheath.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Blackheath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Blackheath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 1 |
| Primary | 287 | 1 |
| Secondary | 91 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.4 Mbps in Birmingham and 439.4 Mbps in Blackheath. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 99.3% in Blackheath. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 81.3% in Blackheath.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (476 vs 439 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Birmingham, scoring 69.5 on average (band C) compared to 68.8 (band C) in Blackheath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,116 in Blackheath. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.8% in Blackheath.
Birmingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 55.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £28,800 in Blackheath. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 41.5 in Blackheath. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 54% in Blackheath. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Birmingham versus 60.1% in Blackheath. Birmingham has a population of 1,119,786 and Blackheath has 6,950.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Blackheath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 6,950 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 41.5 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £28,800 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 60.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 23.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birmingham and Blackheath?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birmingham or Blackheath?
Is Birmingham or Blackheath safer?
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Blackheath?
Which has faster broadband, Birmingham or Blackheath?
Keep exploring