Town comparison
Brierley Hill vs Highley
Which is better to live in? 11.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Highley offers lower property prices by roughly 6%. Highley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Highley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brierley Hill
£215,206
Highley
£203,980
Crime Rate
Brierley Hill
74.7
Highley
48.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brierley Hill
71.4%
Highley
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brierley Hill
450.4
Highley
317.4
EPC Rating
Brierley Hill
69.1
Highley
69.1
Median Income
Brierley Hill
£30,191
Highley
£29,576
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsThe average house price in Highley is £203,980, which is 6% less than Brierley Hill at £215,206. The most affordable entry point in Brierley Hill is a flat at £98,253, while in Highley it is a flat at £81,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 21% pricier in Brierley Hill (£98,253 vs £81,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brierley Hill prices grew faster — 59% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 48.4 offences per 1,000 people, Highley is the safer of the two – 54% lower than Brierley Hill's 74.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brierley Hill is violent-crime, while in Highley 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 MidlandsHighley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 71.4% in Brierley Hill. Brierley Hill has 10 schools in total, while Highley has 1.
Brierley Hill School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 10 schools (9 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Highley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brierley Hill | Highley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 1 |
| Primary | 9 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 71.4% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Brierley Hill offers faster average downloads at 450.4 Mbps, compared to 317.4 Mbps in Highley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.4% of premises in Brierley Hill and 82.4% in Highley. Gigabit availability stands at 87.9% in Brierley Hill and 59% in Highley.
Brierley Hill is the faster of the two by 42% on average download speed (450 vs 317 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Brierley Hill are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.1 (band C) versus 69.1 (band C) in Highley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,153 in Brierley Hill and £1,405 in Highley. 56.7% of homes in Brierley Hill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.2% in Highley.
Highley has more energy-efficient housing — 59.2% reach band C or above, vs 56.7% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,191 in Brierley Hill and £29,576 in Highley. The median age is 43.9 in Brierley Hill and 48.1 in Highley. Employment rates stand at 55.1% in Brierley Hill and 56% in Highley. Owner-occupancy is 66.4% in Brierley Hill versus 68.6% in Highley.
| Indicator | Brierley Hill | Highley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,311 | 3,305 |
| Median Age | 43.9 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £30,191 | £29,576 |
| Employment Rate | 55.1% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.4% | 68.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 25% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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