Congleton vs Northwich
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.9 miles apart.
The verdict
Northwich is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 10% lower. Congleton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Northwich edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Congleton
£345,590
Northwich
£315,151
Crime Rate
Congleton
59.8
Northwich
66.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Congleton
57.1%
Northwich
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Congleton
448
Northwich
425.9
EPC Rating
Congleton
69.1
Northwich
71.2
Median Income
Congleton
£30,988
Northwich
£31,749
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Congleton commands an average of £345,590, compared with £315,151 in Northwich – a difference of 10%. The most affordable entry point in Congleton is a flat at £148,667, while in Northwich it is a flat at £133,715.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 11% pricier in Congleton (£148,667 vs £133,715).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Congleton prices grew faster — 56% vs -9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestCongleton has a crime rate of 59.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 12% lower than Northwich at 66.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Congleton is violent-crime, while in Northwich 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 WestFamilies may prefer Northwich, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 57.1% in Congleton. There are 10 schools in Congleton and 4 in Northwich.
Congleton School Inspection Breakdown
57.1% of 10 schools (8 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Northwich School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Congleton | Northwich |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 10 | 4 |
| Primary | 8 | 4 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 57.1% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 448.0 Mbps in Congleton and 425.9 Mbps in Northwich. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in Congleton and 94.5% in Northwich. Gigabit availability stands at 87.8% in Congleton and 82.4% in Northwich.
Congleton is the faster of the two by 5% on average download speed (448 vs 426 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Northwich, scoring 71.2 on average (band C) compared to 69.1 (band C) in Congleton. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,354 in Congleton and £1,176 in Northwich. 56.2% of homes in Congleton have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.9% in Northwich.
Northwich has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 56.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,749 in Northwich and £30,988 in Congleton. The median age is 47.4 in Congleton and 45.5 in Northwich. Employment rates stand at 57% in Congleton and 57.8% in Northwich. Owner-occupancy is 75.1% in Congleton versus 70.1% in Northwich. Congleton has a population of 30,001 and Northwich has 18,646.
| Indicator | Congleton | Northwich |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,001 | 18,646 |
| Median Age | 47.4 | 45.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,988 | £31,749 |
| Employment Rate | 57% | 57.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 75.1% | 70.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 33% | 36.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Congleton and Northwich?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Congleton or Northwich?
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