Northwich vs Willaston (Cheshire East)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.3 miles apart.
The verdict
Northwich is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 5% lower. Willaston (cheshire East) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Northwich edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Northwich
£315,151
Willaston (Cheshire East)
£331,561
Crime Rate
Northwich
66.7
Willaston (Cheshire East)
59.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Northwich
100.0%
Willaston (Cheshire East)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Northwich
425.9
Willaston (Cheshire East)
351.7
EPC Rating
Northwich
71.2
Willaston (Cheshire East)
70.9
Median Income
Northwich
£31,749
Willaston (Cheshire East)
£32,000
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North WestProperty in Willaston (cheshire East) commands an average of £331,561, compared with £315,151 in Northwich – a difference of 5%. The most affordable entry point in Northwich is a flat at £133,715, while in Willaston (cheshire East) it is a flat at £157,333.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 15% pricier in Willaston (cheshire East) (£157,333 vs £133,715).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Willaston (cheshire East) prices grew faster — 20% vs -9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North WestWillaston (cheshire East) has a crime rate of 59.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 12% lower than Northwich at 66.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Northwich is violent-crime, while in Willaston (cheshire East) 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 100% in Willaston (cheshire East). There are 4 schools in Northwich and 1 in Willaston (cheshire East).
Northwich School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Willaston (Cheshire East) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Northwich | Willaston (Cheshire East) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 1 |
| Primary | 4 | 1 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 425.9 Mbps in Northwich and 351.7 Mbps in Willaston (cheshire East). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.5% of premises in Northwich and 90.8% in Willaston (cheshire East). Gigabit availability stands at 82.4% in Northwich and 65.9% in Willaston (cheshire East).
Northwich is the faster of the two by 21% on average download speed (426 vs 352 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Northwich, scoring 71.2 on average (band C) compared to 70.9 (band C) in Willaston (cheshire East). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,176 in Northwich and £1,250 in Willaston (cheshire East). 66.9% of homes in Northwich have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 61.8% in Willaston (cheshire East).
Northwich has more energy-efficient housing — 66.9% reach band C or above, vs 61.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £32,000 in Willaston (cheshire East) and £31,749 in Northwich. The median age is 45.5 in Northwich and 46.1 in Willaston (cheshire East). Employment rates stand at 57.8% in Northwich and 58.4% in Willaston (cheshire East). Owner-occupancy is 70.1% in Northwich versus 71.9% in Willaston (cheshire East). Northwich has a population of 18,646 and Willaston (cheshire East) has 3,653.
| Indicator | Northwich | Willaston (Cheshire East) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,646 | 3,653 |
| Median Age | 45.5 | 46.1 |
| Median Household Income | £31,749 | £32,000 |
| Employment Rate | 57.8% | 58.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 70.1% | 71.9% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 36.7% | 37.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Northwich and Willaston (cheshire East)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Northwich or Willaston (cheshire East)?
Is Northwich or Willaston (cheshire East) safer?
Which has better schools, Northwich or Willaston (cheshire East)?
Which has faster broadband, Northwich or Willaston (cheshire East)?
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