Town comparison
Birmingham vs Wolverhampton
Which is better to live in? 12.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Wolverhampton is about 2% cheaper on average. Wolverhampton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wolverhampton edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birmingham
£266,208
Wolverhampton
£260,055
Crime Rate
Birmingham
114.1
Wolverhampton
91.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birmingham
91.9%
Wolverhampton
95.1%
Avg Download Speed
Birmingham
476.4
Wolverhampton
411.9
EPC Rating
Birmingham
69.5
Wolverhampton
68.5
Median Income
Birmingham
£31,500
Wolverhampton
£28,959
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsBuyers will find Wolverhampton more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £260,055 versus £266,208 in Birmingham. The most affordable entry point in Birmingham is a flat at £174,356, while in Wolverhampton it is a flat at £112,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 56% pricier in Birmingham (£174,356 vs £112,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Wolverhampton prices grew faster — 41% vs 25%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime is lower in Wolverhampton (91.8 per 1,000) compared to Birmingham (114.1 per 1,000), a 24% difference. The most common crime category in Birmingham is violent-crime, while in Wolverhampton 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 Wolverhampton: 95.1% 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.
Wolverhampton School Inspection Breakdown
95.1% of 83 schools (65 primary, 18 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birmingham | Wolverhampton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 378 | 83 |
| Primary | 287 | 65 |
| Secondary | 91 | 18 |
| % Top two bands | 91.9% | 95.1% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birmingham enjoy 476.4 Mbps on average, while Wolverhampton lags behind at 411.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.2% of premises in Birmingham and 84.4% in Wolverhampton. Gigabit availability stands at 94.4% in Birmingham and 79.9% in Wolverhampton.
Birmingham is the faster of the two by 16% on average download speed (476 vs 412 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Birmingham is band C (score 69.5), ahead of Wolverhampton's band C (score 68.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,182 in Birmingham and £1,177 in Wolverhampton. 61.4% of homes in Birmingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.4% in Wolverhampton.
Birmingham has more energy-efficient housing — 61.4% reach band C or above, vs 56.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birmingham has a population of 1,119,786 while Wolverhampton has 233,643. Median household income is £31,499.5 in Birmingham and £28,959 in Wolverhampton. The median age is 42.1 in Birmingham and 41 in Wolverhampton. Employment rates stand at 54% in Birmingham and 53.4% in Wolverhampton.
| Indicator | Birmingham | Wolverhampton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,119,786 | 233,643 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 41 |
| Median Household Income | £31,499.5 | £28,959 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 53.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.1% | 55% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33.2% | 26.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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