Madeley vs Market Drayton
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Madeley wins on house prices with a 31% gap. Market Drayton has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Madeley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Madeley
£223,536
Market Drayton
£323,893
Crime Rate
Madeley
69.5
Market Drayton
48.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Madeley
100.0%
Market Drayton
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Madeley
235.8
Market Drayton
304.1
EPC Rating
Madeley
69.8
Market Drayton
71.5
Median Income
Madeley
£30,424
Market Drayton
£31,276
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsProperty in Market Drayton commands an average of £323,893, compared with £223,536 in Madeley – a difference of 31%. The most affordable entry point in Madeley is a flat at £88,773, while in Market Drayton it is a flat at £137,277.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 35% pricier in Market Drayton (£137,277 vs £88,773).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Market Drayton prices grew faster — 41% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsResidents of Market Drayton experience less crime overall, with a rate of 48 per 1,000 versus 69.5 per 1,000 in Madeley. The most common crime category in Madeley is violent-crime, while in Market Drayton 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Madeley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 75% in Market Drayton. There are 3 schools in Madeley and 4 in Market Drayton.
Madeley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (2 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Market Drayton School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Madeley | Market Drayton |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 4 |
| Primary | 2 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 304.1 Mbps in Market Drayton and 235.8 Mbps in Madeley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.8% of premises in Madeley and 85.1% in Market Drayton. Gigabit availability stands at 38% in Madeley and 55.6% in Market Drayton.
Market Drayton is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (304 vs 236 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Market Drayton, scoring 71.5 on average (band C) compared to 69.8 (band C) in Madeley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,300 in Madeley and £1,216 in Market Drayton. 59.4% of homes in Madeley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.8% in Market Drayton.
Market Drayton has more energy-efficient housing — 64.8% reach band C or above, vs 59.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £31,276 in Market Drayton and £30,424 in Madeley. The median age is 46.4 in Madeley and 45.4 in Market Drayton. Employment rates stand at 56.4% in Madeley and 56.9% in Market Drayton. Owner-occupancy is 69.4% in Madeley versus 67.6% in Market Drayton. Madeley has a population of 3,293 and Market Drayton has 12,062.
| Indicator | Madeley | Market Drayton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,293 | 12,062 |
| Median Age | 46.4 | 45.4 |
| Median Household Income | £30,424 | £31,276 |
| Employment Rate | 56.4% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 69.4% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.7% | 31.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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