Town comparison
Barnard Castle vs Crook
Which is better to live in? 13.4 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Crook is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 71% lower. 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
Crook
£171,351
Crime Rate
Barnard Castle
89.4
Crook
119.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnard Castle
100.0%
Crook
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnard Castle
250.9
Crook
378.8
EPC Rating
Barnard Castle
69.5
Crook
71.5
Median Income
Barnard Castle
£30,753
Crook
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £171,351, Crook undercuts Barnard Castle (£293,865) by around 71% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barnard Castle is a flat at £104,792, while in Crook it is a flat at £31,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 238% pricier in Barnard Castle (£104,792 vs £31,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Crook prices grew faster — 59% vs 55%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastBarnard Castle has a crime rate of 89.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 34% lower than Crook at 119.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnard Castle is violent-crime, while in Crook 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 EastOf the 4 schools in Barnard Castle, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Crook, which has 3 schools, the figure is 100%.
Barnard Castle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Crook School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnard Castle | Crook |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 3 |
| Primary | 3 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Crook averages 378.8 Mbps – ahead of Barnard Castle's 250.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 71.7% of premises in Barnard Castle and 91.3% in Crook. Gigabit availability stands at 45.2% in Barnard Castle and 72.4% in Crook.
Crook is the faster of the two by 51% on average download speed (379 vs 251 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Crook, scoring 71.5 on average (band C) compared to 69.5 (band C) in Barnard Castle. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,477 in Barnard Castle and £1,191 in Crook. 57% of homes in Barnard Castle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Crook.
Crook has more energy-efficient housing — 68.5% reach band C or above, vs 57% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,753.4 in Barnard Castle and £28,414 in Crook. The median age is 47.8 in Barnard Castle and 44.7 in Crook. Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Barnard Castle and 51.2% in Crook. Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Barnard Castle versus 62.5% in Crook. Barnard Castle has a population of 5,783 and Crook has 9,717.
| Indicator | Barnard Castle | Crook |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,783 | 9,717 |
| 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
How far apart are Barnard Castle and Crook?
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