Backworth vs Fence Houses
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Fence Houses offers lower property prices by roughly 186%. Backworth has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Backworth edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Backworth
£278,446
Fence Houses
£97,500
Crime Rate
Backworth
81.9
Fence Houses
94.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Backworth
100.0%
Fence Houses
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Backworth
445.7
Fence Houses
455.9
EPC Rating
Backworth
72
Fence Houses
72.4
Median Income
Backworth
£30,205
Fence Houses
£28,343
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Fence Houses is £97,500, which is 186% less than Backworth at £278,446. The most affordable entry point in Backworth is a terraced at £121,738, while in Fence Houses it is a semi-detached at £97,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 143% pricier in Backworth (£236,775 vs £97,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 7 years, Backworth prices grew faster — 31% vs -2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastCrime is lower in Backworth (81.9 per 1,000) compared to Fence Houses (94.6 per 1,000), a 16% difference. The most common crime category in Backworth is violent-crime, while in Fence Houses 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 Fence Houses. Backworth has 1 schools in total, while Fence Houses has 2.
Backworth School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fence Houses School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Backworth | Fence Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 2 |
| Primary | 1 | 2 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Fence Houses offers faster average downloads at 455.9 Mbps, compared to 445.7 Mbps in Backworth. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.4% of premises in Backworth and 96.4% in Fence Houses. Gigabit availability stands at 87.2% in Backworth and 89.1% in Fence Houses.
Fence Houses is the faster of the two by 2% on average download speed (456 vs 446 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Fence Houses are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.4 (band C) versus 72 (band C) in Backworth. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,236 in Backworth and £1,124 in Fence Houses. 68.8% of homes in Backworth have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.4% in Fence Houses.
Fence Houses has more energy-efficient housing — 71.4% reach band C or above, vs 68.8% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,204.5 in Backworth and £28,342.5 in Fence Houses. The median age is 46.2 in Backworth and 44.5 in Fence Houses. Employment rates stand at 54.5% in Backworth and 51.5% in Fence Houses. Owner-occupancy is 64.5% in Backworth versus 60.3% in Fence Houses.
| Indicator | Backworth | Fence Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,483 | 6,945 |
| Median Age | 46.2 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,204.5 | £28,342.5 |
| Employment Rate | 54.5% | 51.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 64.5% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 31.8% | 25.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Backworth and Fence Houses?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Backworth or Fence Houses?
Is Backworth or Fence Houses safer?
Which has better schools, Backworth or Fence Houses?
Which has faster broadband, Backworth or Fence Houses?
Keep exploring