Catshill vs Dickens Heath
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Dickens Heath offers lower property prices by roughly 18%. Catshill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Catshill edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Catshill
£299,626
Dickens Heath
£254,465
Crime Rate
Catshill
9.8
Dickens Heath
78.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Catshill
100.0%
Dickens Heath
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Catshill
439.5
Dickens Heath
462
EPC Rating
Catshill
69.8
Dickens Heath
69.8
Median Income
Catshill
£32,163
Dickens Heath
£33,940
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsThe average house price in Dickens Heath is £254,465, which is 18% less than Catshill at £299,626. The most affordable entry point in Catshill is a flat at £125,000, while in Dickens Heath it is a flat at £208,841.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 40% pricier in Dickens Heath (£208,841 vs £125,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Catshill prices grew faster — 45% vs 20%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsWith 9.8 offences per 1,000 people, Catshill is the safer of the two – 702% lower than Dickens Heath's 78.6 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Catshill is violent-crime, while in Dickens Heath 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 MidlandsCatshill has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Dickens Heath. Catshill has 3 schools in total, while Dickens Heath has 1.
Catshill School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Dickens Heath School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Catshill | Dickens Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 1 |
| Primary | 2 | 1 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Dickens Heath offers faster average downloads at 462.0 Mbps, compared to 439.5 Mbps in Catshill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.9% of premises in Catshill and 96.7% in Dickens Heath. Gigabit availability stands at 85.6% in Catshill and 91.4% in Dickens Heath.
Dickens Heath is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (462 vs 440 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Catshill are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 69.8 (band C) versus 69.8 (band C) in Dickens Heath. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,296 in Catshill and £1,242 in Dickens Heath. 62.6% of homes in Catshill have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.4% in Dickens Heath.
Catshill has more energy-efficient housing — 62.6% reach band C or above, vs 61.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,939.5 in Dickens Heath and £32,163 in Catshill. The median age is 47 in Catshill and 45.6 in Dickens Heath. Employment rates stand at 57.9% in Catshill and 57.2% in Dickens Heath. Owner-occupancy is 73.8% in Catshill versus 74.8% in Dickens Heath.
| Indicator | Catshill | Dickens Heath |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,173 | 4,797 |
| Median Age | 47 | 45.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,163 | £33,939.5 |
| Employment Rate | 57.9% | 57.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 73.8% | 74.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.8% | 36% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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