Brownhills vs Penkridge
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Brownhills is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Penkridge has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Brownhills edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Brownhills
£253,612
Penkridge
£309,211
Crime Rate
Brownhills
90.6
Penkridge
50.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Brownhills
100.0%
Penkridge
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Brownhills
449.4
Penkridge
374.7
EPC Rating
Brownhills
69.4
Penkridge
69.8
Median Income
Brownhills
£30,251
Penkridge
£30,205
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsAt £253,612, Brownhills undercuts Penkridge (£309,211) by around 18% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Brownhills is a flat at £114,071, while in Penkridge it is a flat at £129,167.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 31% pricier in Penkridge (£280,652 vs £193,800).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brownhills prices grew faster — 56% vs 5%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsPenkridge has a crime rate of 50.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 79% lower than Brownhills at 90.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Brownhills is violent-crime, while in Penkridge 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 MidlandsOf the 10 schools in Brownhills, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Penkridge, which has 5 schools, the figure is 100%.
Brownhills School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Penkridge School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (3 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Brownhills | Penkridge |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 5 |
| Primary | 8 | 3 |
| Secondary | 2 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Brownhills averages 449.4 Mbps – ahead of Penkridge's 374.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.1% of premises in Brownhills and 87.7% in Penkridge. Gigabit availability stands at 87.8% in Brownhills and 72% in Penkridge.
Brownhills is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (449 vs 375 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Penkridge, scoring 69.8 on average (band C) compared to 69.4 (band C) in Brownhills. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,195 in Brownhills and £1,330 in Penkridge. 58.2% of homes in Brownhills have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.7% in Penkridge.
Penkridge has more energy-efficient housing — 61.7% reach band C or above, vs 58.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,251 in Brownhills and £30,204.5 in Penkridge. The median age is 43.7 in Brownhills and 48 in Penkridge. Employment rates stand at 56.5% in Brownhills and 55.1% in Penkridge. Owner-occupancy is 66.6% in Brownhills versus 71.5% in Penkridge. Brownhills has a population of 21,238 and Penkridge has 8,364.
| Indicator | Brownhills | Penkridge |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,238 | 8,364 |
| Median Age | 43.7 | 48 |
| Median Household Income | £30,251 | £30,204.5 |
| Employment Rate | 56.5% | 55.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 66.6% | 71.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 30.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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