Bowdon vs Romiley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 11.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Romiley offers lower property prices by roughly 210%. Bowdon has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowdon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bowdon
£952,908
Romiley
£307,052
Crime Rate
Bowdon
74.0
Romiley
75.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bowdon
100.0%
Romiley
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bowdon
433.1
Romiley
435.6
EPC Rating
Bowdon
70.8
Romiley
70.8
Median Income
Bowdon
£32,892
Romiley
£31,619
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Romiley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £307,052 versus £952,908 in Bowdon. The most affordable entry point in Bowdon is a terraced at £580,727, while in Romiley it is a flat at £142,417.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 374% pricier in Bowdon (£674,702 vs £142,417).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bowdon prices grew faster — 40% vs 35%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Bowdon (74 per 1,000) compared to Romiley (75.1 per 1,000), a 1% difference. The most common crime category in Bowdon is violent-crime, while in Romiley 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 WestSchool quality favours Bowdon: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 75% in Romiley.
Bowdon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (2 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Romiley School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 5 schools (3 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bowdon | Romiley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 5 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 2 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Romiley enjoy 435.6 Mbps on average, while Bowdon lags behind at 433.1 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.2% of premises in Bowdon and 94.6% in Romiley. Gigabit availability stands at 83% in Bowdon and 85.4% in Romiley.
Romiley is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (436 vs 433 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bowdon is band C (score 70.8), ahead of Romiley's band C (score 70.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,206 in Bowdon and £1,191 in Romiley. 62.9% of homes in Bowdon have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 62.7% in Romiley.
Bowdon has more energy-efficient housing — 62.9% reach band C or above, vs 62.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bowdon has a population of 6,107 while Romiley has 10,902. Median household income is £32,891.5 in Bowdon and £31,619 in Romiley. The median age is 44.2 in Bowdon and 45.2 in Romiley. Employment rates stand at 59.1% in Bowdon and 58.5% in Romiley.
| Indicator | Bowdon | Romiley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,107 | 10,902 |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 45.2 |
| Median Household Income | £32,891.5 | £31,619 |
| Employment Rate | 59.1% | 58.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.5% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 40.3% | 37.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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