Birmingham vs Dickens Heath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 6.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Dickens Heath is about 5% cheaper on average. Dickens Heath has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Dickens Heath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Dickens Heath
£254,465
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Dickens Heath
78.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Dickens Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Dickens Heath
462
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Dickens Heath
69.8
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Dickens Heath
£33,940
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Dickens Heath more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £254,465 versus £266,208 in Birmingham. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Dickens Heath it is a flat at £208,841.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 30% pricier in Dickens Heath (£383,893 vs £270,514).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birmingham prices grew faster — 25% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 78.6 offences per 1,000 people, Dickens Heath is the safer of the two – 45% lower than Birmingham's 114.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Dickens 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 MidlandsSchool quality favours Dickens Heath: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 91.9% in Birmingham.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dickens Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Dickens Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 1 |
| Primary | 287 | 1 |
| Secondary | 91 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birmingham enjoy 476.4 Mbps on average, while Dickens Heath lags behind at 462.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 96.7% in Dickens Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 91.4% in Dickens Heath.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (476 vs 462 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Dickens Heath is band C (score 69.8), ahead of Birmingham's band C (score 69.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,242 in Dickens Heath. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Dickens Heath.
Birmingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birmingham has a population of 1,119,786 while Dickens Heath has 4,797. Median household income is £33,939.5 in Dickens Heath and £31,499.5 in Birmingham. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 45.6 in Dickens Heath. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 57.2% in Dickens Heath.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Dickens Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 4,797 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 45.6 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £33,939.5 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 57.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 74.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birmingham and Dickens Heath?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birmingham or Dickens Heath?
Is Birmingham or Dickens Heath safer?
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Dickens Heath?
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