Town comparison
Barnard Castle vs Richmond
Which is better to live in? 12.1 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Barnard Castle is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 62% lower. Richmond has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Barnard Castle edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Barnard Castle
£293,865
Richmond
£764,893
Crime Rate
Barnard Castle
89.4
Richmond
47.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnard Castle
100.0%
Richmond
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnard Castle
250.9
Richmond
294.6
EPC Rating
Barnard Castle
69.5
Richmond
70.3
Median Income
Barnard Castle
£30,753
Richmond
£29,895
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £293,865, Barnard Castle undercuts Richmond (£764,893) by around 62% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Barnard Castle is a flat at £104,792, while in Richmond it is a flat at £576,882.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 82% pricier in Richmond (£576,882 vs £104,792).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnard Castle prices grew faster — 55% vs 14%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastRichmond has a crime rate of 47.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 89% lower than Barnard Castle at 89.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnard Castle is violent-crime, while in Richmond 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 Richmond, which has 5 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.
Richmond School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 5 schools (3 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnard Castle | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 5 |
| Primary | 3 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 2 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Richmond averages 294.6 Mbps – ahead of Barnard Castle's 250.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 71.7% of premises in Barnard Castle and 81.6% in Richmond. Gigabit availability stands at 45.2% in Barnard Castle and 51.4% in Richmond.
Richmond is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (295 vs 251 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Richmond leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 70.3 (C), while Barnard Castle averages 69.5 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,477 in Barnard Castle and £1,432 in Richmond. 57% of homes in Barnard Castle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 59.5% in Richmond.
Richmond has more energy-efficient housing — 59.5% reach band C or above, vs 57% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £30,753.4 in Barnard Castle and £29,895 in Richmond. The median age is 47.8 in Barnard Castle and 48.1 in Richmond. Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Barnard Castle versus 68.4% in Richmond. Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Barnard Castle and 56.9% in Richmond.
| Indicator | Barnard Castle | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,783 | 8,076 |
| Median Age | 47.8 | 48.1 |
| Median Household Income | £30,753.4 | £29,895 |
| Employment Rate | 56.3% | 56.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 68.7% | 68.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 32.9% | 34.2% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Barnard Castle and Richmond?
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