Bowdon vs Failsworth
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Failsworth is about 327% cheaper on average. Bowdon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowdon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bowdon
£952,908
Failsworth
£223,292
Crime Rate
Bowdon
74.0
Failsworth
106.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bowdon
100.0%
Failsworth
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bowdon
433.1
Failsworth
478.3
EPC Rating
Bowdon
70.8
Failsworth
71.4
Median Income
Bowdon
£32,892
Failsworth
£29,509
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Failsworth is £223,292, which is 327% less than Bowdon at £952,908. The most affordable entry point in Bowdon is a terraced at £580,727, while in Failsworth it is a terraced at £171,460.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 250% pricier in Bowdon (£674,702 vs £192,838).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Failsworth prices grew faster — 71% vs 40%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bowdon (74 per 1,000) compared to Failsworth (106.8 per 1,000), a 44% difference. The most common crime category in Bowdon is violent-crime, while in Failsworth 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 100% in Failsworth. Bowdon has 4 schools in total, while Failsworth has 7.
Bowdon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Failsworth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bowdon | Failsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 7 |
| Primary | 2 | 6 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Failsworth offers faster average downloads at 478.3 Mbps, compared to 433.1 Mbps in Bowdon. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Bowdon and 99.7% in Failsworth. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Bowdon and 94.8% in Failsworth.
Failsworth is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (478 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Failsworth 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 £1,206 in Bowdon and £1,101 in Failsworth. 62.9% of homes in Bowdon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 70.7% in Failsworth.
Failsworth has more energy-efficient housing — 70.7% reach band C or above, vs 62.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,891.5 in Bowdon and £29,509 in Failsworth. The median age is 44.2 in Bowdon and 39.5 in Failsworth. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Bowdon and 52.5% in Failsworth. Owner-occupancy is 70.5% in Bowdon versus 60.4% in Failsworth.
| Indicator | Bowdon | Failsworth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,107 | 19,962 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 39.5 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £29,509 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 52.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 60.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 24.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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