Birmingham vs Essington
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Birmingham is about 18% cheaper on average. Essington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Essington edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Essington
£325,895
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Essington
50.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Essington
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Essington
459.5
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Essington
69
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Essington
£29,283
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsThe average house price in Birmingham is £266,208, which is 18% less than Essington at £325,895. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Essington it is a flat at £137,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 33% pricier in Birmingham (£224,533 vs £168,250).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Essington prices grew faster — 34% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 50.7 offences per 1,000 people, Essington is the safer of the two – 125% lower than Birmingham's 114.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Essington 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 MidlandsEssington has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 91.9% in Birmingham. Birmingham has 378 schools in total, while Essington has 1.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Essington School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Essington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 1 |
| Primary | 287 | 1 |
| Secondary | 91 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Birmingham offers faster average downloads at 476.4 Mbps, compared to 459.5 Mbps in Essington. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 97.6% in Essington. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 90.6% in Essington.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (476 vs 460 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 (band C) in Essington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,200 in Essington. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 57.6% in Essington.
Birmingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 57.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £29,282.7 in Essington. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 43.4 in Essington. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 53.6% in Essington. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Birmingham versus 62.9% in Essington.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Essington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 3,471 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 43.4 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £29,282.7 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 53.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 62.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birmingham and Essington?
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