Blackheath vs Brownhills
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Brownhills is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 253% lower. Brownhills has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Blackheath edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Blackheath
£894,432
Brownhills
£253,612
Crime Rate
Blackheath
95.1
Brownhills
90.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Blackheath
100.0%
Brownhills
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Blackheath
439.4
Brownhills
449.4
EPC Rating
Blackheath
68.8
Brownhills
69.4
Median Income
Blackheath
£28,800
Brownhills
£30,251
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsAt £253,612, Brownhills undercuts Blackheath (£894,432) by around 253% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Blackheath is a flat at £629,111, while in Brownhills it is a flat at £114,071.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 452% pricier in Blackheath (£629,111 vs £114,071).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brownhills prices grew faster — 56% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsBrownhills has a crime rate of 90.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 5% lower than Blackheath at 95.1 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Blackheath is violent-crime, while in Brownhills 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 MidlandsOf the 1 schools in Blackheath, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Brownhills, which has 10 schools, the figure is 100%.
Blackheath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brownhills School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Blackheath | Brownhills |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 10 |
| Primary | 1 | 8 |
| Secondary | 0 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Brownhills averages 449.4 Mbps – ahead of Blackheath's 439.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 99.3% of premises in Blackheath and 97.1% in Brownhills. Gigabit availability stands at 81.3% in Blackheath and 87.8% in Brownhills.
Brownhills is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (449 vs 439 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Brownhills, scoring 69.4 on average (band C) compared to 68.8 (band C) in Blackheath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,116 in Blackheath and £1,195 in Brownhills. 55.8% of homes in Blackheath have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 58.2% in Brownhills.
Brownhills has more energy-efficient housing — 58.2% reach band C or above, vs 55.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,251 in Brownhills and £28,800 in Blackheath. The median age is 41.5 in Blackheath and 43.7 in Brownhills. Employment rates stand at 54% in Blackheath and 56.5% in Brownhills. Owner-occupancy is 60.1% in Blackheath versus 66.6% in Brownhills. Blackheath has a population of 6,950 and Brownhills has 21,238.
| Indicator | Blackheath | Brownhills |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,950 | 21,238 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 43.7 |
| Median Household Income | £28,800 | £30,251 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 56.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.1% | 66.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 23.9% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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