Town comparison
Shrewsbury vs Wem
Which is better to live in? 10.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Wem is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 18% lower. Shrewsbury has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Wem edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Shrewsbury
£331,262
Wem
£280,551
Crime Rate
Shrewsbury
48.2
Wem
48.2
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Shrewsbury
81.2%
Wem
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Shrewsbury
417.7
Wem
237.5
EPC Rating
Shrewsbury
69.1
Wem
72.1
Median Income
Shrewsbury
£29,576
Wem
£29,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in West MidlandsProperty in Shrewsbury commands an average of £331,262, compared with £280,551 in Wem – a difference of 18%. The most affordable entry point in Shrewsbury is a flat at £186,442, while in Wem it is a flat at £119,667.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 56% pricier in Shrewsbury (£186,442 vs £119,667).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Wem prices grew faster — 53% vs 28%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in West MidlandsShrewsbury has a crime rate of 48.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Wem at 48.2 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Shrewsbury 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 MidlandsFamilies may prefer Wem, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 81.2% in Shrewsbury. There are 24 schools in Shrewsbury and 2 in Wem.
Shrewsbury School Inspection Breakdown
81.2% of 24 schools (20 primary, 4 secondary) 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 | Shrewsbury | Wem |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 24 | 2 |
| Primary | 20 | 1 |
| Secondary | 4 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 81.2% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 417.7 Mbps in Shrewsbury and 237.5 Mbps in Wem. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.7% of premises in Shrewsbury and 77% in Wem. Gigabit availability stands at 77.3% in Shrewsbury and 40.2% in Wem.
Shrewsbury is the faster of the two by 76% on average download speed (418 vs 238 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Wem leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 72.1 (C), while Shrewsbury averages 69.1 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,405 in Shrewsbury and £1,205 in Wem. 59.2% of homes in Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury. The median age is 48.1 in Shrewsbury and 44.8 in Wem. Owner-occupancy is 68.6% in Shrewsbury versus 64.2% in Wem. Employment rates stand at 56% in Shrewsbury and 56.8% in Wem.
| Indicator | Shrewsbury | Wem |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,784 | 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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