Town comparison
Congleton vs Madeley
Which is better to live in? 12.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Madeley offers lower property prices by roughly 55%. Congleton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Madeley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Congleton
£345,590
Madeley
£223,536
Crime Rate
Congleton
59.8
Madeley
69.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Congleton
57.1%
Madeley
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Congleton
448
Madeley
235.8
EPC Rating
Congleton
69.1
Madeley
69.8
Median Income
Congleton
£30,988
Madeley
£30,424
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestBuyers will find Madeley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £223,536 versus £345,590 in Congleton. The most affordable entry point in Congleton is a flat at £148,667, while in Madeley it is a flat at £88,773.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 67% pricier in Congleton (£148,667 vs £88,773).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Congleton prices grew faster — 56% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 59.8 offences per 1,000 people, Congleton is the safer of the two – 16% lower than Madeley's 69.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Congleton is violent-crime, while in Madeley 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 Madeley: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 57.1% in Congleton.
Congleton School Inspection Breakdown
57.1% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Madeley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Congleton | Madeley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 3 |
| Primary | 8 | 2 |
| Secondary | 2 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 57.1% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Congleton enjoy 448.0 Mbps on average, while Madeley lags behind at 235.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in Congleton and 93.8% in Madeley. Gigabit availability stands at 87.8% in Congleton and 38% in Madeley.
Congleton is the faster of the two by 90% on average download speed (448 vs 236 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Madeley is band C (score 69.8), ahead of Congleton's band C (score 69.1). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,354 in Congleton and £1,300 in Madeley. 56.2% of homes in Congleton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.4% in Madeley.
Madeley has more energy-efficient housing — 59.4% reach band C or above, vs 56.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Congleton has a population of 30,001 while Madeley has 3,293. Median household income is £30,988 in Congleton and £30,424 in Madeley. The median age is 47.4 in Congleton and 46.4 in Madeley. Employment rates stand at 57% in Congleton and 56.4% in Madeley.
| Indicator | Congleton | Madeley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,001 | 3,293 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 46.4 |
| Median Household Income | £30,988 | £30,424 |
| Employment Rate | 57% | 56.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 75.1% | 69.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33% | 32.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Congleton and Madeley?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Congleton or Madeley?
Is Congleton or Madeley safer?
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