Bolton (Bolton) vs Heywood
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bolton (bolton) offers lower property prices by roughly 26%. Bolton (bolton) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bolton (bolton) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bolton (Bolton)
£261,398
Heywood
£353,345
Crime Rate
Bolton (Bolton)
98.4
Heywood
105.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bolton (Bolton)
96.5%
Heywood
90.9%
Avg Download Speed
Bolton (Bolton)
437.3
Heywood
451.7
EPC Rating
Bolton (Bolton)
71.4
Heywood
71.9
Median Income
Bolton (Bolton)
£27,821
Heywood
£28,946
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Bolton (bolton) is £261,398, which is 26% less than Heywood at £353,345. The most affordable entry point in Bolton (bolton) is a flat at £133,932, while in Heywood it is a flat at £139,380.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 13% pricier in Bolton (bolton) (£412,754 vs £365,155).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heywood prices grew faster — 197% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 98.4 offences per 1,000 people, Bolton (bolton) is the safer of the two – 7% lower than Heywood's 105.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bolton (bolton) is violent-crime, while in Heywood 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 WestBolton (bolton) has 96.5% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 90.9% in Heywood. Bolton (bolton) has 72 schools in total, while Heywood has 12.
Bolton (Bolton) School Inspection Breakdown
96.5% of 72 schools (60 primary, 12 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Heywood School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bolton (Bolton) | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 72 | 12 |
| Primary | 60 | 10 |
| Secondary | 12 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 96.5% | 90.9% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Heywood offers faster average downloads at 451.7 Mbps, compared to 437.3 Mbps in Bolton (bolton). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.1% of premises in Bolton (bolton) and 96% in Heywood. Gigabit availability stands at 83.2% in Bolton (bolton) and 87.6% in Heywood.
Heywood is the faster of the two by 3% on average download speed (452 vs 437 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Heywood are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.9 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Bolton (bolton). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,126 in Bolton (bolton) and £1,138 in Heywood. 66.2% of homes in Bolton (bolton) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.3% in Heywood.
Heywood has more energy-efficient housing — 71.3% reach band C or above, vs 66.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,946 in Heywood and £27,821 in Bolton (bolton). The median age is 40.8 in Bolton (bolton) and 40.3 in Heywood. Employment rates stand at 54% in Bolton (bolton) and 54% in Heywood. Owner-occupancy is 61.5% in Bolton (bolton) versus 60.3% in Heywood.
| Indicator | Bolton (Bolton) | Heywood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 184,618 | 29,724 |
| Median Age | 40.8 | 40.3 |
| Median Household Income | £27,821 | £28,946 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 54% |
| Owner Occupied | 61.5% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bolton (bolton) and Heywood?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bolton (bolton) or Heywood?
Is Bolton (bolton) or Heywood safer?
Which has better schools, Bolton (bolton) or Heywood?
Which has faster broadband, Bolton (bolton) or Heywood?
Keep exploring