Town comparison
Barnard Castle vs Darlington
Which is better to live in? 14.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Darlington is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 61% 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
Darlington
£182,726
Crime Rate
Barnard Castle
89.4
Darlington
90.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnard Castle
100.0%
Darlington
92.6%
Avg Download Speed
Barnard Castle
250.9
Darlington
452.8
EPC Rating
Barnard Castle
69.5
Darlington
71.4
Median Income
Barnard Castle
£30,753
Darlington
£27,988
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastProperty in Barnard Castle commands an average of £293,865, compared with £182,726 in Darlington – a difference of 61%. The most affordable entry point in Barnard Castle is a flat at £104,792, while in Darlington it is a flat at £109,070.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 63% pricier in Barnard Castle (£200,181 vs £122,880).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnard Castle prices grew faster — 55% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastBarnard Castle has a crime rate of 89.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 2% lower than Darlington at 90.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnard Castle is violent-crime, while in Darlington 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 EastFamilies may prefer Barnard Castle, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 92.6% in Darlington. There are 4 schools in Barnard Castle and 31 in Darlington.
Barnard Castle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Darlington School Inspection Breakdown
92.6% of 31 schools (24 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnard Castle | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 31 |
| Primary | 3 | 24 |
| Secondary | 1 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 92.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 452.8 Mbps in Darlington and 250.9 Mbps in Barnard Castle. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 71.7% of premises in Barnard Castle and 95.8% in Darlington. Gigabit availability stands at 45.2% in Barnard Castle and 89% in Darlington.
Darlington is the faster of the two by 80% on average download speed (453 vs 251 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Darlington leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.4 (C), while Barnard Castle averages 69.5 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,477 in Barnard Castle and £1,197 in Darlington. 57% of homes in Barnard Castle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Darlington.
Darlington has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 57% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,753.4 in Barnard Castle and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 47.8 in Barnard Castle and 44.5 in Darlington. Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Barnard Castle versus 62.6% in Darlington. Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Barnard Castle and 53.6% in Darlington.
| Indicator | Barnard Castle | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,783 | 93,058 |
| Median Age | 47.8 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £30,753.4 | £27,988 |
| Employment Rate | 56.3% | 53.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.7% | 62.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.9% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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