Blackheath vs Brierley Hill
Which is better to live in? Distance: 3.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Brierley Hill is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 316% lower. Brierley Hill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blackheath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Blackheath
£894,432
Brierley Hill
£215,206
Crime Rate
Blackheath
95.1
Brierley Hill
74.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Blackheath
100.0%
Brierley Hill
71.4%
Avg Download Speed
Blackheath
439.4
Brierley Hill
450.4
EPC Rating
Blackheath
68.8
Brierley Hill
69.1
Median Income
Blackheath
£28,800
Brierley Hill
£30,191
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsProperty in Blackheath commands an average of £894,432, compared with £215,206 in Brierley Hill – a difference of 316%. The most affordable entry point in Blackheath is a flat at £629,111, while in Brierley Hill it is a flat at £98,253.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 540% pricier in Blackheath (£629,111 vs £98,253).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brierley Hill prices grew faster — 59% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsBrierley Hill has a crime rate of 74.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 27% lower than Blackheath at 95.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Blackheath is violent-crime, while in Brierley Hill 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Blackheath, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 71.4% in Brierley Hill. There are 1 schools in Blackheath and 10 in Brierley Hill.
Blackheath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brierley Hill School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 10 schools (9 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Blackheath | Brierley Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 10 |
| Primary | 1 | 9 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 71.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 450.4 Mbps in Brierley Hill and 439.4 Mbps in Blackheath. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Blackheath and 97.4% in Brierley Hill. Gigabit availability stands at 81.3% in Blackheath and 87.9% in Brierley Hill.
Brierley Hill is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (450 vs 439 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Brierley Hill, scoring 69.1 on average (band C) compared to 68.8 (band C) in Blackheath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,116 in Blackheath and £1,153 in Brierley Hill. 55.8% of homes in Blackheath have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.7% in Brierley Hill.
Brierley Hill has more energy-efficient housing — 56.7% reach band C or above, vs 55.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,191 in Brierley Hill and £28,800 in Blackheath. The median age is 41.5 in Blackheath and 43.9 in Brierley Hill. Employment rates stand at 54% in Blackheath and 55.1% in Brierley Hill. Owner-occupancy is 60.1% in Blackheath versus 66.4% in Brierley Hill. Blackheath has a population of 6,950 and Brierley Hill has 32,311.
| Indicator | Blackheath | Brierley Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,950 | 32,311 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 43.9 |
| Median Household Income | £28,800 | £30,191 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 55.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.1% | 66.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 25% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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