Birmingham vs Cradley Heath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 7.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Cradley Heath is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 2% lower. Cradley Heath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cradley Heath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Cradley Heath
£260,552
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Cradley Heath
95.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Cradley Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Cradley Heath
439.5
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Cradley Heath
68.8
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Cradley Heath
£28,800
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsProperty in Birmingham commands an average of £266,208, compared with £260,552 in Cradley Heath – a difference of 2%. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Cradley Heath it is a flat at £106,173.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 64% pricier in Birmingham (£174,356 vs £106,173).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Cradley Heath prices grew faster — 76% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCradley Heath has a crime rate of 95.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 20% lower than Birmingham at 114.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Cradley Heath 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 Cradley Heath, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 91.9% in Birmingham. There are 378 schools in Birmingham and 7 in Cradley Heath.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cradley Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Cradley Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 7 |
| Primary | 287 | 6 |
| Secondary | 91 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.4 Mbps in Birmingham and 439.5 Mbps in Cradley Heath. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 99.6% in Cradley Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 85% in Cradley Heath.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 8% on average download speed (476 vs 440 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Birmingham, scoring 69.5 on average (band C) compared to 68.8 (band C) in Cradley Heath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,116 in Cradley Heath. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 55.8% in Cradley Heath.
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 Cradley Heath. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 41.5 in Cradley Heath. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 54% in Cradley Heath. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Birmingham versus 60.1% in Cradley Heath. Birmingham has a population of 1,119,786 and Cradley Heath has 18,819.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Cradley Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 18,819 |
| 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
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