Town comparison
Birmingham vs Coventry
Which is better to live in? 16.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Birmingham is about 1% cheaper on average. Birmingham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birmingham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Coventry
£269,873
Crime Rate
Birmingham
14.8
Coventry
27.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Coventry
90.1%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Coventry
490.7
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Coventry
71.6
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Coventry
£29,751
House Prices (2025)
The average house price in Birmingham is £266,208, which is 1% less than Coventry at £269,873. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Coventry it is a flat at £132,373.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 32% pricier in Birmingham (£174,356 vs £132,373).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Coventry prices grew faster — 32% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Crime is lower in Birmingham (14.8 per 1,000) compared to Coventry (27.3 per 1,000), a 84% difference. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Coventry it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Birmingham has 91.9% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90.1% in Coventry. Birmingham has 378 schools in total, while Coventry has 107.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Coventry School Inspection Breakdown
90.1% of 107 schools (85 primary, 22 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 107 |
| Primary | 287 | 85 |
| Secondary | 91 | 22 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 90.1% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Coventry offers faster average downloads at 490.7 Mbps, compared to 476.4 Mbps in Birmingham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 99.3% in Coventry. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 97.8% in Coventry.
Coventry is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (491 vs 476 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Coventry are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.6 (band C) versus 69.5 (band C) in Birmingham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £998 in Coventry. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 67.8% in Coventry.
Coventry has more energy-efficient housing — 67.8% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £29,751 in Coventry. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 40.9 in Coventry. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 56.2% in Coventry. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Birmingham versus 62.7% in Coventry.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 343,623 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 40.9 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £29,751 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 56.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 62.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 27.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birmingham and Coventry?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birmingham or Coventry?
Is Birmingham or Coventry safer?
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Coventry?
Which has faster broadband, Birmingham or Coventry?
Keep exploring