Town comparison
Birmingham vs Solihull
Which is better to live in? 5.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Birmingham is about 34% cheaper on average. Solihull has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Solihull edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Solihull
£405,767
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Solihull
78.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Solihull
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Solihull
476.7
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Solihull
70.3
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Solihull
£33,826
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Birmingham more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £266,208 versus £405,767 in Solihull. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Solihull it is a flat at £198,288.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 32% pricier in Solihull (£655,245 vs £448,411).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birmingham prices grew faster — 25% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 78.9 offences per 1,000 people, Solihull 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 Solihull 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 Solihull: 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.
Solihull School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 37 schools (30 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Solihull |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 37 |
| Primary | 287 | 30 |
| Secondary | 91 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Solihull enjoy 476.7 Mbps on average, while Birmingham lags behind at 476.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 98.8% in Solihull. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 93.8% in Solihull.
Solihull is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (477 vs 476 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Solihull is band C (score 70.3), ahead of Birmingham's band C (score 69.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,181 in Solihull. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.6% in Solihull.
Solihull has more energy-efficient housing — 61.6% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birmingham has a population of 1,119,786 while Solihull has 107,754. Median household income is £33,826 in Solihull and £31,499.5 in Birmingham. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 44.8 in Solihull. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 56.1% in Solihull.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Solihull |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 107,754 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 44.8 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £33,826 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 56.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 72.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 35.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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