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Balsall Heath West
vs Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East

Balsall Heath West has the younger population: 27% of residents are aged 15–29, against 25% in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East. Homes in Balsall Heath West sold for a median of £227,000, 30% above Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East. Balsall Heath West has more green space nearby (12% within 500 m, against 8%).

Map of Birmingham with Balsall Heath West highlighted
Balsall Heath West
216 postcodes
Map of Birmingham with Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East highlighted
Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East
419 postcodes
Map of Birmingham
Birmingham
city average

People

Balsall Heath West has 13,247 residents in 4,163 households; Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East has 26,302 in 7,490. Balsall Heath West has the higher share of residents aged 65 and over: 10%, 2.2 percentage points more than Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East (Birmingham: 13%). Balsall Heath West has the higher share of people living alone: 33%, 8.8 percentage points more than Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East (Birmingham: 32%).

13,247Residents (2021)
26,302Residents (2021)
1,144,919Residents (2021)
4,163Households
7,490Households
423,455Households
26.9%Aged 15–29
25.1%Aged 15–29
22.9%Aged 15–29
10.1%Aged 65 and over
7.9%Aged 65 and over
13.1%Aged 65 and over
32.9%Living alone
24.1%Living alone
31.5%Living alone

Homes and prices

In both, terraced houses are the most common type of home: 37% of homes in Balsall Heath West and 56% in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East. Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East has the higher share of owner-occupied homes: 43%, 7.5 percentage points more than Balsall Heath West (Birmingham: 53%). Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East has the higher share of private renting: 26%, 3 percentage points more than Balsall Heath West (Birmingham: 23%). Over two years, homes sold for a median of £227,000 in Balsall Heath West and £175,000 in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East, against £240,000 across Birmingham.

£227,000Median sale price
£175,000Median sale price
£240,000Median sale price
35.9%Owner-occupied
43.4%Owner-occupied
52.7%Owner-occupied
22.7%Private renting
25.7%Private renting
22.6%Private renting
40.3%Social renting
30.2%Social renting
23.5%Social renting
6.4%Detached houses
8.1%Detached houses
11.2%Detached houses
20.1%Semi-detached houses
17.9%Semi-detached houses
35.6%Semi-detached houses
36.8%Terraced houses
55.5%Terraced houses
27.8%Terraced houses
29.5%Flats
12.9%Flats
21.0%Flats

Surroundings

Balsall Heath West has the higher share of land within 500 m that is green space: 12%, 3.9 percentage points more than Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East (Birmingham: 16%). A typical postcode has 217 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk in Balsall Heath West, and 237 in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East. The typical postcode is 196 m from the nearest school in Balsall Heath West and 253 m in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East. The typical postcode is 1,259 m from the nearest tram stop or railway station in Balsall Heath West and 850 m in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 94% of premises in Balsall Heath West and 97% in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East.

12.3%Green space within 500 m
8.4%Green space within 500 m
16.3%Green space within 500 m
217Services within 15 min (median)
237Services within 15 min (median)
86Services within 15 min (median)
196 mNearest school (median)
253 mNearest school (median)
–Nearest school (median)
1.3 kmNearest tram or rail (median)
850 mNearest tram or rail (median)
–Nearest tram or rail (median)
56Postcodes in flood risk areas
24Postcodes in flood risk areas
982Postcodes in flood risk areas
94.1%Gigabit broadband (premises)
97.0%Gigabit broadband (premises)
95.4%Gigabit broadband (premises)

Safety

Over 12 months, police recorded 99 crimes and incidents per 1,000 residents in Balsall Heath West and 133 in Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East, against 128 across Birmingham. Police.uk records crimes by approximate location, not by where victims or offenders live. Busy streets, shops, stations and nightlife record more. Figures are counts, not a measure of personal risk.

99Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
133Recorded crime per 1,000 residents
128Recorded crime per 1,000 residents

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS) · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data · official school registers · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Environment Agency · data.police.uk, 12 months to Aug 2026 · Ofcom Connected Nations

In brief.

Each ward in a few lines, from its own page.

Balsall Heath West

Balsall Heath West is one of 69 wards in Birmingham, home to 13,247 people in 4,163 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £227,000 over the past two years, 5% below the Birmingham median. On average 12% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 25% below the Birmingham average.

Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East

Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East is one of 69 wards in Birmingham, home to 26,302 people in 7,490 households (Census 2021). Homes sold for a median of £175,000 over the past two years, 27% below the Birmingham median. On average 8% of the land within 500 metres of a home postcode is green space — 48% below the Birmingham average.

More comparisons.

Balsall Heath West and Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East next to other wards of Birmingham.

Balsall Heath West vs Bordesley & HighgateBalsall Heath West vs MoseleyBalsall Heath West vs EdgbastonSparkbrook & Balsall Heath East vs SparkhillSparkbrook & Balsall Heath East vs Bordesley GreenSparkbrook & Balsall Heath East vs MoseleyAll wards of Birmingham