Brighouse vs Meltham
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.2 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Brighouse offers lower property prices by roughly 24%. Meltham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brighouse edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brighouse
£223,810
Meltham
£295,074
Crime Rate
Brighouse
106.5
Meltham
89.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brighouse
100.0%
Meltham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brighouse
452.9
Meltham
351
EPC Rating
Brighouse
68.5
Meltham
69.4
Median Income
Brighouse
£29,592
Meltham
£29,765
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in Yorkshire and the HumberThe average house price in Brighouse is £223,810, which is 24% less than Meltham at £295,074. The most affordable entry point in Brighouse is a flat at £121,632, while in Meltham it is a flat at £195,750.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 38% pricier in Meltham (£195,750 vs £121,632).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Meltham prices grew faster — 45% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in Yorkshire and the HumberCrime is lower in Meltham (89.1 per 1,000) compared to Brighouse (106.5 per 1,000), a 20% difference. The most common crime category in Brighouse is violent-crime, while in Meltham 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 Yorkshire and the HumberBrighouse has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Meltham. Brighouse has 15 schools in total, while Meltham has 2.
Brighouse School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 15 schools (12 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Meltham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brighouse | Meltham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 15 | 2 |
| Primary | 12 | 2 |
| Secondary | 3 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Brighouse offers faster average downloads at 452.9 Mbps, compared to 351.0 Mbps in Meltham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.7% of premises in Brighouse and 90.2% in Meltham. Gigabit availability stands at 89.2% in Brighouse and 65.9% in Meltham.
Brighouse is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (453 vs 351 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Meltham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.4 (band C) versus 68.5 (band C) in Brighouse. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,279 in Brighouse and £1,178 in Meltham. 54.2% of homes in Brighouse have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 56.2% in Meltham.
Meltham has more energy-efficient housing — 56.2% reach band C or above, vs 54.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,765 in Meltham and £29,591.5 in Brighouse. The median age is 42.5 in Brighouse and 42.6 in Meltham. Employment rates stand at 55.5% in Brighouse and 55.4% in Meltham. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Brighouse versus 63.9% in Meltham.
| Indicator | Brighouse | Meltham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,159 | 8,325 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 42.6 |
| Median Household Income | £29,591.5 | £29,765 |
| Employment Rate | 55.5% | 55.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 65% | 63.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.4% | 26.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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