Bolton (Bolton) vs Bowdon
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bolton (bolton) offers lower property prices by roughly 73%. Bowdon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowdon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bolton (Bolton)
£261,398
Bowdon
£952,908
Crime Rate
Bolton (Bolton)
98.4
Bowdon
74.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bolton (Bolton)
96.5%
Bowdon
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bolton (Bolton)
437.3
Bowdon
433.1
EPC Rating
Bolton (Bolton)
71.4
Bowdon
70.8
Median Income
Bolton (Bolton)
£27,821
Bowdon
£32,892
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Bolton (bolton) is £261,398, which is 73% less than Bowdon at £952,908. The most affordable entry point in Bolton (bolton) is a flat at £133,932, while in Bowdon it is a terraced at £580,727.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 80% pricier in Bowdon (£674,702 vs £133,932).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bowdon prices grew faster — 40% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bowdon (74 per 1,000) compared to Bolton (bolton) (98.4 per 1,000), a 33% difference. The most common crime category in Bolton (bolton) is violent-crime, while in Bowdon 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 North WestBowdon has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 96.5% in Bolton (bolton). Bolton (bolton) has 72 schools in total, while Bowdon has 4.
Bolton (Bolton) School Inspection Breakdown
96.5% of 72 schools (60 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bowdon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bolton (Bolton) | Bowdon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 72 | 4 |
| Primary | 60 | 2 |
| Secondary | 12 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 96.5% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Bolton (bolton) offers faster average downloads at 437.3 Mbps, compared to 433.1 Mbps in Bowdon. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Bolton (bolton) and 94.2% in Bowdon. Gigabit availability stands at 83.2% in Bolton (bolton) and 83% in Bowdon.
Bolton (bolton) is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (437 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Bolton (bolton) are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.4 (band C) versus 70.8 (band C) in Bowdon. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,126 in Bolton (bolton) and £1,206 in Bowdon. 66.2% of homes in Bolton (bolton) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.9% in Bowdon.
Bolton (bolton) has more energy-efficient housing — 66.2% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,891.5 in Bowdon and £27,821 in Bolton (bolton). The median age is 40.8 in Bolton (bolton) and 44.2 in Bowdon. Employment rates stand at 54% in Bolton (bolton) and 59.1% in Bowdon. Owner-occupancy is 61.5% in Bolton (bolton) versus 70.5% in Bowdon.
| Indicator | Bolton (Bolton) | Bowdon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 184,618 | 6,107 |
| Median Age | 40.8 | 44.2 |
| Median Household Income | £27,821 | £32,891.5 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 59.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.5% | 70.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 40.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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