Town comparison
Birmingham vs Hollywood
Which is better to live in? 5.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Birmingham wins on house prices with a 35% gap. For families, Hollywood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Hollywood
£406,560
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Hollywood
N/A
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Hollywood
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Hollywood
394.8
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Hollywood
69.9
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Hollywood
£31,525
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsProperty in Hollywood commands an average of £406,560, compared with £266,208 in Birmingham – a difference of 35%. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Hollywood it is a terraced at £304,179.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 29% pricier in Hollywood (£378,949 vs £270,514).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Hollywood prices grew faster — 48% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime rate data is not available for both Birmingham and Hollywood at this time.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Schools & Education
Best for schools in West MidlandsFamilies may prefer Hollywood, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 91.9% in Birmingham. There are 378 schools in Birmingham and 2 in Hollywood.
Birmingham School Inspection Breakdown
91.9% of 378 schools (287 primary, 91 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Hollywood School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Hollywood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 2 |
| Primary | 287 | 1 |
| Secondary | 91 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 476.4 Mbps in Birmingham and 394.8 Mbps in Hollywood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 94.7% in Hollywood. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 75.3% in Hollywood.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (476 vs 395 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Hollywood leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 69.9 (C), while Birmingham averages 69.5 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,272 in Hollywood. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.7% in Hollywood.
Hollywood has more energy-efficient housing — 61.7% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,525 in Hollywood and £31,499.5 in Birmingham. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 44.2 in Hollywood. Owner-occupancy is 65.1% in Birmingham versus 67% in Hollywood. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 55.6% in Hollywood.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Hollywood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 6,599 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £31,525 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 55.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 67% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 35.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birmingham and Hollywood?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birmingham or Hollywood?
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