Town comparison
Gobowen vs Wem
Which is better to live in? 13.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Gobowen is about 19% cheaper on average. Wem has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Gobowen edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Gobowen
£226,823
Wem
£280,551
Crime Rate
Gobowen
48.3
Wem
48.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Gobowen
100.0%
Wem
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Gobowen
364.7
Wem
237.5
EPC Rating
Gobowen
69.1
Wem
72.1
Median Income
Gobowen
£29,576
Wem
£29,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsThe average house price in Gobowen is £226,823, which is 19% less than Wem at £280,551. The most affordable entry point in Gobowen is a flat at £124,500, while in Wem it is a flat at £119,667.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 23% pricier in Wem (£242,667 vs £187,033).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Wem prices grew faster — 53% vs 46%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsCrime is lower in Wem (48.2 per 1,000) compared to Gobowen (48.3 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Gobowen is violent-crime, while in Wem 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 West MidlandsGobowen has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Wem. Gobowen has 1 schools in total, while Wem has 2.
Gobowen School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wem School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (1 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Gobowen | Wem |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Gobowen offers faster average downloads at 364.7 Mbps, compared to 237.5 Mbps in Wem. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.6% of premises in Gobowen and 77% in Wem. Gigabit availability stands at 63.8% in Gobowen and 40.2% in Wem.
Gobowen is the faster of the two by 54% on average download speed (365 vs 238 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Wem are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.1 (band C) versus 69.1 (band C) in Gobowen. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,405 in Gobowen and £1,205 in Wem. 59.2% of homes in Gobowen have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.6% in Wem.
Wem has more energy-efficient housing — 68.6% reach band C or above, vs 59.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,660.5 in Wem and £29,576 in Gobowen. The median age is 48.1 in Gobowen and 44.8 in Wem. Employment rates stand at 56% in Gobowen and 56.8% in Wem. Owner-occupancy is 68.6% in Gobowen versus 64.2% in Wem.
| Indicator | Gobowen | Wem |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,046 | 6,287 |
| Median Age | 48.1 | 44.8 |
| Median Household Income | £29,576 | £29,660.5 |
| Employment Rate | 56% | 56.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.6% | 64.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.5% | 29.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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