Town comparison
Chirk vs Oswestry
Which is better to live in? 5.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Chirk wins on house prices with a 15% gap. Oswestry has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Chirk
£240,097
Oswestry
£281,541
Crime Rate
Chirk
84.7
Oswestry
48.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chirk
N/A
Oswestry
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chirk
304.7
Oswestry
364.7
EPC Rating
Chirk
69.4
Oswestry
69.1
Median Income
Chirk
£29,535
Oswestry
£29,576
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesAt £240,097, Chirk undercuts Oswestry (£281,541) by around 15% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Chirk is a terraced at £165,722, while in Oswestry it is a flat at £106,286.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 18% pricier in Oswestry (£382,570 vs £314,461).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chirk prices grew faster — 71% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesResidents of Oswestry experience less crime overall, with a rate of 48.3 per 1,000 versus 84.7 per 1,000 in Chirk. The most common crime category in Chirk is violent-crime, while in Oswestry 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 WalesSchool quality data is not fully available for both Chirk and Oswestry. Chirk has 0 schools and Oswestry has 5 schools.
Chirk School Inspection Breakdown
Oswestry School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Chirk | Oswestry |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 5 |
| Primary | 0 | 4 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Oswestry averages 364.7 Mbps – ahead of Chirk's 304.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Chirk and 93.6% in Oswestry. Gigabit availability stands at 52.5% in Chirk and 63.8% in Oswestry.
Oswestry is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (365 vs 305 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Chirk leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 69.4 (C), while Oswestry averages 69.1 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,319 in Chirk and £1,405 in Oswestry. 58.4% of homes in Chirk have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.2% in Oswestry.
Oswestry has more energy-efficient housing — 59.2% reach band C or above, vs 58.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,576 in Oswestry and £29,535 in Chirk. The median age is 46 in Chirk and 48.1 in Oswestry. Owner-occupancy is 65.5% in Chirk versus 68.6% in Oswestry. Employment rates stand at 56% in Chirk and 56% in Oswestry.
| Indicator | Chirk | Oswestry |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,930 | 17,500 |
| Median Age | 46 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £29,535 | £29,576 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 56% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.5% | 68.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 30.8% | 32.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chirk and Oswestry?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chirk or Oswestry?
Is Chirk or Oswestry safer?
Which has better schools, Chirk or Oswestry?
Which has faster broadband, Chirk or Oswestry?
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