Town comparison
Birmingham vs Brierley Hill
Which is better to live in? 9.8 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Brierley Hill offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Brierley Hill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birmingham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Brierley Hill
£215,206
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Brierley Hill
74.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Brierley Hill
71.4%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Brierley Hill
450.4
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Brierley Hill
69.1
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Brierley Hill
£30,191
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Brierley Hill more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £215,206 versus £266,208 in Birmingham. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Brierley Hill it is a flat at £98,253.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 77% pricier in Birmingham (£174,356 vs £98,253).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brierley Hill prices grew faster — 59% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime is lower in Brierley Hill (74.7 per 1,000) compared to Birmingham (114.1 per 1,000), a 53% difference. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Brierley Hill 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 MidlandsSchool quality favours Birmingham: 91.9% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 71.4% in Brierley Hill.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brierley Hill School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 10 schools (9 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Brierley Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 10 |
| Primary | 287 | 9 |
| Secondary | 91 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 71.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birmingham enjoy 476.4 Mbps on average, while Brierley Hill lags behind at 450.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 97.4% in Brierley Hill. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 87.9% in Brierley Hill.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (476 vs 450 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Birmingham is band C (score 69.5), ahead of Brierley Hill's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,153 in Brierley Hill. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.7% in Brierley Hill.
Birmingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 56.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birmingham has a population of 1,119,786 while Brierley Hill has 32,311. Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £30,191 in Brierley Hill. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 43.9 in Brierley Hill. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 55.1% in Brierley Hill.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Brierley Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 32,311 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 43.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £30,191 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 55.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 25% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birmingham and Brierley Hill?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birmingham or Brierley Hill?
Is Birmingham or Brierley Hill safer?
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Brierley Hill?
Which has faster broadband, Birmingham or Brierley Hill?
Keep exploring