Colwyn Bay vs Rhyl
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Rhyl is about 38% cheaper on average. Colwyn Bay has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Colwyn Bay
£259,756
Rhyl
£188,583
Crime Rate
Colwyn Bay
83.6
Rhyl
95.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Colwyn Bay
N/A
Rhyl
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Colwyn Bay
458.6
Rhyl
437.6
EPC Rating
Colwyn Bay
67.2
Rhyl
68.6
Median Income
Colwyn Bay
£27,022
Rhyl
£27,614
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesThe average house price in Rhyl is £188,583, which is 38% less than Colwyn Bay at £259,756. The most affordable entry point in Colwyn Bay is a flat at £145,010, while in Rhyl it is a flat at £109,100.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 60% pricier in Colwyn Bay (£365,828 vs £228,286).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Colwyn Bay prices grew faster — 50% vs 43%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesCrime is lower in Colwyn Bay (83.6 per 1,000) compared to Rhyl (95.8 per 1,000), a 15% difference. The most common crime category in Colwyn Bay is violent-crime, while in Rhyl 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 Colwyn Bay and Rhyl. Colwyn Bay has 0 schools and Rhyl has 0 schools.
Colwyn Bay School Inspection Breakdown
Rhyl School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Colwyn Bay | Rhyl |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 0 |
| Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Colwyn Bay offers faster average downloads at 458.6 Mbps, compared to 437.6 Mbps in Rhyl. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97.8% of premises in Colwyn Bay and 97.9% in Rhyl. Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Colwyn Bay and 85.2% in Rhyl.
Colwyn Bay is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (459 vs 438 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Rhyl are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 68.6 (band D) versus 67.2 (band D) in Colwyn Bay. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,448 in Colwyn Bay and £1,364 in Rhyl. 49.3% of homes in Colwyn Bay have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.9% in Rhyl.
Rhyl has more energy-efficient housing — 54.9% reach band C or above, vs 49.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,614 in Rhyl and £27,022 in Colwyn Bay. The median age is 49.5 in Colwyn Bay and 47.1 in Rhyl. Employment rates stand at 50.6% in Colwyn Bay and 53.4% in Rhyl. Owner-occupancy is 68.4% in Colwyn Bay versus 68.7% in Rhyl.
| Indicator | Colwyn Bay | Rhyl |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,273 | 26,982 |
| Median Age | 49.5 | 47.1 |
| Median Household Income | £27,022 | £27,614 |
| Employment Rate | 50.6% | 53.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.4% | 68.7% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.4% | 30.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Colwyn Bay and Rhyl?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Colwyn Bay or Rhyl?
Is Colwyn Bay or Rhyl safer?
Which has better schools, Colwyn Bay or Rhyl?
Which has faster broadband, Colwyn Bay or Rhyl?
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