Town comparison
Heysham vs Lancaster
Which is better to live in? 3.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, Heysham offers lower property prices by roughly 16%. Heysham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Heysham edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Heysham
£207,543
Lancaster
£247,557
Crime Rate
Heysham
73.2
Lancaster
73.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Heysham
100.0%
Lancaster
85.7%
Avg Download Speed
Heysham
439.1
Lancaster
414.9
EPC Rating
Heysham
67.6
Lancaster
67.6
Median Income
Heysham
£29,467
Lancaster
£29,467
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestThe average house price in Heysham is £207,543, which is 16% less than Lancaster at £247,557. The most affordable entry point in Heysham is a flat at £110,052, while in Lancaster it is a flat at £149,941.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 31% pricier in Lancaster (£425,366 vs £294,705).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heysham prices grew faster — 55% vs 22%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWith 73.2 offences per 1,000 people, Heysham is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Lancaster's 73.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Heysham is violent-crime, while in Lancaster 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 WestHeysham has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 85.7% in Lancaster. Heysham has 5 schools in total, while Lancaster has 17.
Heysham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (5 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Lancaster School Inspection Breakdown
85.7% of 17 schools (12 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Heysham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 5 | 17 |
| Primary | 5 | 12 |
| Secondary | 0 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 85.7% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Heysham offers faster average downloads at 439.1 Mbps, compared to 414.9 Mbps in Lancaster. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.4% of premises in Heysham and 97.6% in Lancaster. Gigabit availability stands at 83.8% in Heysham and 78.8% in Lancaster.
Heysham is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (439 vs 415 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Heysham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 67.6 (band C) versus 67.6 (band C) in Lancaster. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,337 in Heysham and £1,337 in Lancaster. 51.2% of homes in Heysham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 51.2% in Lancaster.
Heysham has more energy-efficient housing — 51.2% reach band C or above, vs 51.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,467 in Heysham and £29,467 in Lancaster. The median age is 43.8 in Heysham and 43.8 in Lancaster. Employment rates stand at 52.2% in Heysham and 52.2% in Lancaster. Owner-occupancy is 67.1% in Heysham versus 67.1% in Lancaster.
| Indicator | Heysham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,593 | 52,646 |
| Median Age | 43.8 | 43.8 |
| Median Household Income | £29,467 | £29,467 |
| Employment Rate | 52.2% | 52.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.1% | 67.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.3% | 32.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Heysham and Lancaster?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Heysham or Lancaster?
Is Heysham or Lancaster safer?
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