Heywood vs Manchester
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Manchester is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 11% lower. Heywood has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Heywood edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Heywood
£353,345
Manchester
£319,011
Crime Rate
Heywood
105.4
Manchester
143.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Heywood
90.9%
Manchester
88.3%
Avg Download Speed
Heywood
451.7
Manchester
468
EPC Rating
Heywood
71.9
Manchester
74.1
Median Income
Heywood
£28,946
Manchester
£28,386
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Heywood commands an average of £353,345, compared with £319,011 in Manchester – a difference of 11%. The most affordable entry point in Heywood is a flat at £139,380, while in Manchester it is a flat at £224,609.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 38% pricier in Manchester (£254,080 vs £156,522).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Heywood prices grew faster — 197% vs 38%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestHeywood has a crime rate of 105.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 36% lower than Manchester at 143.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Heywood is violent-crime, while in Manchester 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 Heywood, where 90.9% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 88.3% in Manchester. There are 12 schools in Heywood and 146 in Manchester.
Heywood School Inspection Breakdown
90.9% of 12 schools (10 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Manchester School Inspection Breakdown
88.3% of 146 schools (118 primary, 28 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Heywood | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 12 | 146 |
| Primary | 10 | 118 |
| Secondary | 2 | 28 |
| % Top two bands | 90.9% | 88.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 468.0 Mbps in Manchester and 451.7 Mbps in Heywood. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96% of premises in Heywood and 98.5% in Manchester. Gigabit availability stands at 87.6% in Heywood and 91% in Manchester.
Manchester is the faster of the two by 4% on average download speed (468 vs 452 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Manchester, scoring 74.1 on average (band C) compared to 71.9 (band C) in Heywood. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,138 in Heywood and £915 in Manchester. 71.3% of homes in Heywood have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 79.1% in Manchester.
Manchester has more energy-efficient housing — 79.1% reach band C or above, vs 71.3% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,946 in Heywood and £28,386 in Manchester. The median age is 40.3 in Heywood and 34.7 in Manchester. Employment rates stand at 54% in Heywood and 53.5% in Manchester. Owner-occupancy is 60.3% in Heywood versus 37.2% in Manchester. Heywood has a population of 29,724 and Manchester has 470,736.
| Indicator | Heywood | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,724 | 470,736 |
| Median Age | 40.3 | 34.7 |
| Median Household Income | £28,946 | £28,386 |
| Employment Rate | 54% | 53.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.3% | 37.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.4% | 37.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Heywood and Manchester?
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