Birmingham vs Brownhills
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Brownhills is about 5% cheaper on average. Brownhills has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brownhills edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Brownhills
£253,612
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Brownhills
90.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Brownhills
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Brownhills
449.4
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Brownhills
69.4
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Brownhills
£30,251
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsThe average house price in Brownhills is £253,612, which is 5% less than Birmingham at £266,208. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Brownhills it is a flat at £114,071.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 53% pricier in Birmingham (£174,356 vs £114,071).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brownhills prices grew faster — 56% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 90.6 offences per 1,000 people, Brownhills is the safer of the two – 26% lower than Birmingham's 114.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Brownhills 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 MidlandsBrownhills has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 91.9% in Birmingham. Birmingham has 378 schools in total, while Brownhills has 10.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brownhills School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Brownhills |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 10 |
| Primary | 287 | 8 |
| Secondary | 91 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Birmingham offers faster average downloads at 476.4 Mbps, compared to 449.4 Mbps in Brownhills. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 97.1% in Brownhills. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 87.8% in Brownhills.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (476 vs 449 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Birmingham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.5 (band C) versus 69.4 (band C) in Brownhills. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,195 in Brownhills. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.2% in Brownhills.
Birmingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 58.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £30,251 in Brownhills. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 43.7 in Brownhills. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 56.5% in Brownhills. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Birmingham versus 66.6% in Brownhills.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Brownhills |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 21,238 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 43.7 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £30,251 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 56.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 66.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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