Backworth vs Birtley
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Birtley offers lower property prices by roughly 51%. Backworth has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Backworth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Backworth
£278,446
Birtley
£184,121
Crime Rate
Backworth
81.9
Birtley
89.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Backworth
100.0%
Birtley
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Backworth
445.7
Birtley
406.6
EPC Rating
Backworth
72
Birtley
71.8
Median Income
Backworth
£30,205
Birtley
£28,058
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Birtley is £184,121, which is 51% less than Backworth at £278,446. The most affordable entry point in Backworth is a terraced at £121,738, while in Birtley it is a flat at £68,516.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 97% pricier in Backworth (£135,000 vs £68,516).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Backworth prices grew faster — 31% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 81.9 offences per 1,000 people, Backworth is the safer of the two – 10% lower than Birtley's 89.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Backworth is violent-crime, while in Birtley 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 EastBackworth has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Birtley. Backworth has 1 schools in total, while Birtley has 7.
Backworth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Backworth | Birtley |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 7 |
| Primary | 1 | 6 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Backworth offers faster average downloads at 445.7 Mbps, compared to 406.6 Mbps in Birtley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.4% of premises in Backworth and 94.8% in Birtley. Gigabit availability stands at 87.2% in Backworth and 78.4% in Birtley.
Backworth is the faster of the two by 10% on average download speed (446 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Backworth are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72 (band C) versus 71.8 (band C) in Birtley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,236 in Backworth and £1,117 in Birtley. 68.8% of homes in Backworth have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.2% in Birtley.
Birtley has more energy-efficient housing — 69.2% reach band C or above, vs 68.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,204.5 in Backworth and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 46.2 in Backworth and 44.5 in Birtley. Employment rates stand at 54.5% in Backworth and 52.4% in Birtley. Owner-occupancy is 64.5% in Backworth versus 59.5% in Birtley.
| Indicator | Backworth | Birtley |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,483 | 13,840 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,204.5 | £28,058.3 |
| Employment Rate | 54.5% | 52.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.5% | 59.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.8% | 26.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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