Burscough vs Cottam (Preston)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Burscough offers lower property prices by roughly 5%. Burscough has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Burscough edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Burscough
£271,878
Cottam (Preston)
£285,843
Crime Rate
Burscough
48.3
Cottam (Preston)
96.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Burscough
100.0%
Cottam (Preston)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Burscough
388.8
Cottam (Preston)
326
EPC Rating
Burscough
71.8
Cottam (Preston)
71.8
Median Income
Burscough
£31,989
Cottam (Preston)
£31,406
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Burscough is £271,878, which is 5% less than Cottam (preston) at £285,843. The most affordable entry point in Burscough is a flat at £160,554, while in Cottam (preston) it is a flat at £99,130.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 62% pricier in Burscough (£160,554 vs £99,130).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Burscough prices grew faster — 26% vs 11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 48.3 offences per 1,000 people, Burscough is the safer of the two – 100% lower than Cottam (preston)'s 96.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Burscough is violent-crime, while in Cottam (preston) 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 WestBurscough has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Cottam (preston). Burscough has 6 schools in total, while Cottam (preston) has 2.
Burscough School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Cottam (Preston) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Burscough | Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 6 | 2 |
| Primary | 5 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Burscough offers faster average downloads at 388.8 Mbps, compared to 326.0 Mbps in Cottam (preston). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.4% of premises in Burscough and 91.4% in Cottam (preston). Gigabit availability stands at 74.5% in Burscough and 58.7% in Cottam (preston).
Burscough is the faster of the two by 19% on average download speed (389 vs 326 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Burscough are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 71.8 (band C) in Cottam (preston). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,183 in Burscough and £1,166 in Cottam (preston). 68.8% of homes in Burscough have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.9% in Cottam (preston).
Burscough has more energy-efficient housing — 68.8% reach band C or above, vs 65.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,988.5 in Burscough and £31,406.2 in Cottam (preston). The median age is 44.6 in Burscough and 45.6 in Cottam (preston). Employment rates stand at 57% in Burscough and 55.4% in Cottam (preston). Owner-occupancy is 71.4% in Burscough versus 70.3% in Cottam (preston).
| Indicator | Burscough | Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,754 | 5,507 |
| Median Age | 44.6 | 45.6 |
| Median Household Income | £31,988.5 | £31,406.2 |
| Employment Rate | 57% | 55.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 71.4% | 70.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.9% | 31.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Burscough or Cottam (preston)?
Is Burscough or Cottam (preston) safer?
Which has better schools, Burscough or Cottam (preston)?
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