Chorley vs Cottam (Preston)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Cottam (preston) offers lower property prices by roughly 0%. Chorley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cottam (preston) edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Chorley
£286,099
Cottam (Preston)
£285,843
Crime Rate
Chorley
56.8
Cottam (Preston)
96.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Chorley
94.1%
Cottam (Preston)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Chorley
441.5
Cottam (Preston)
326
EPC Rating
Chorley
72
Cottam (Preston)
71.8
Median Income
Chorley
£32,033
Cottam (Preston)
£31,406
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Cottam (preston) more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £285,843 versus £286,099 in Chorley. The most affordable entry point in Chorley is a flat at £115,085, while in Cottam (preston) it is a flat at £99,130.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 16% pricier in Chorley (£115,085 vs £99,130).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Chorley prices grew faster — 52% vs 11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCrime is lower in Chorley (56.8 per 1,000) compared to Cottam (preston) (96.8 per 1,000), a 70% difference. The most common crime category in Chorley 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 WestSchool quality favours Cottam (preston): 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 94.1% in Chorley.
Chorley School Inspection Breakdown
94.1% of 18 schools (13 primary, 5 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 | Chorley | Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 18 | 2 |
| Primary | 13 | 2 |
| Secondary | 5 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 94.1% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Chorley enjoy 441.5 Mbps on average, while Cottam (preston) lags behind at 326.0 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.2% of premises in Chorley and 91.4% in Cottam (preston). Gigabit availability stands at 84.7% in Chorley and 58.7% in Cottam (preston).
Chorley is the faster of the two by 35% on average download speed (442 vs 326 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Chorley is band C (score 72), ahead of Cottam (preston)'s band C (score 71.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,144 in Chorley and £1,166 in Cottam (preston). 68.2% of homes in Chorley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.9% in Cottam (preston).
Chorley has more energy-efficient housing — 68.2% reach band C or above, vs 65.9% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Chorley has a population of 39,539 while Cottam (preston) has 5,507. Median household income is £32,033.3 in Chorley and £31,406.2 in Cottam (preston). The median age is 44.8 in Chorley and 45.6 in Cottam (preston). Employment rates stand at 57.9% in Chorley and 55.4% in Cottam (preston).
| Indicator | Chorley | Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,539 | 5,507 |
| Median Age | 44.8 | 45.6 |
| Median Household Income | £32,033.3 | £31,406.2 |
| Employment Rate | 57.9% | 55.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 72.9% | 70.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.9% | 31.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Chorley and Cottam (preston)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Chorley or Cottam (preston)?
Is Chorley or Cottam (preston) safer?
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