Town comparison
Barnard Castle vs Bishop Auckland
Which is better to live in? 12.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Bishop Auckland is about 78% cheaper on average. Barnard Castle has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnard Castle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnard Castle
£293,865
Bishop Auckland
£164,905
Crime Rate
Barnard Castle
89.4
Bishop Auckland
89.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnard Castle
100.0%
Bishop Auckland
71.4%
Avg Download Speed
Barnard Castle
250.9
Bishop Auckland
250.4
EPC Rating
Barnard Castle
69.5
Bishop Auckland
71.5
Median Income
Barnard Castle
£30,753
Bishop Auckland
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastBuyers will find Bishop Auckland more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £164,905 versus £293,865 in Barnard Castle. The most affordable entry point in Barnard Castle is a flat at £104,792, while in Bishop Auckland it is a flat at £68,224.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 110% pricier in Barnard Castle (£200,181 vs £95,319).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnard Castle prices grew faster — 55% vs 24%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastCrime is lower in Barnard Castle (89.4 per 1,000) compared to Bishop Auckland (89.4 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Barnard Castle is violent-crime, while in Bishop Auckland 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 EastSchool quality favours Barnard Castle: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 71.4% in Bishop Auckland.
Barnard Castle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bishop Auckland School Inspection Breakdown
71.4% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnard Castle | Bishop Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 11 |
| Primary | 3 | 8 |
| Secondary | 1 | 3 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 71.4% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Barnard Castle enjoy 250.9 Mbps on average, while Bishop Auckland lags behind at 250.4 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 71.7% of premises in Barnard Castle and 88.3% in Bishop Auckland. Gigabit availability stands at 45.2% in Barnard Castle and 42.3% in Bishop Auckland.
Barnard Castle is the faster of the two by 0% on average download speed (251 vs 250 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bishop Auckland is band C (score 71.5), ahead of Barnard Castle's band C (score 69.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,477 in Barnard Castle and £1,191 in Bishop Auckland. 57% of homes in Barnard Castle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Bishop Auckland.
Bishop Auckland has more energy-efficient housing — 68.5% reach band C or above, vs 57% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnard Castle has a population of 5,783 while Bishop Auckland has 22,594. Median household income is £30,753.4 in Barnard Castle and £28,414 in Bishop Auckland. The median age is 47.8 in Barnard Castle and 44.7 in Bishop Auckland. Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Barnard Castle and 51.2% in Bishop Auckland.
| Indicator | Barnard Castle | Bishop Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,783 | 22,594 |
| Median Age | 47.8 | 44.7 |
| Median Household Income | £30,753.4 | £28,414 |
| Employment Rate | 56.3% | 51.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.7% | 62.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.9% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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