Barnard Castle vs Shildon
Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Shildon is about 168% 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
Shildon
£109,813
Crime Rate
Barnard Castle
89.4
Shildon
149.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnard Castle
100.0%
Shildon
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnard Castle
250.9
Shildon
352.5
EPC Rating
Barnard Castle
69.5
Shildon
71.4
Median Income
Barnard Castle
£30,753
Shildon
£27,988
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastBuyers will find Shildon more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £109,813 versus £293,865 in Barnard Castle. The most affordable entry point in Barnard Castle is a flat at £104,792, while in Shildon it is a terraced at £59,648.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 236% pricier in Barnard Castle (£200,181 vs £59,648).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnard Castle prices grew faster — 55% vs 12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 89.4 offences per 1,000 people, Barnard Castle is the safer of the two – 67% lower than Shildon's 149.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnard Castle is violent-crime, while in Shildon 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 100% in Shildon.
Barnard Castle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Shildon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnard Castle | Shildon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 3 |
| Primary | 3 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Shildon enjoy 352.5 Mbps on average, while Barnard Castle lags behind at 250.9 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 71.7% of premises in Barnard Castle and 95.6% in Shildon. Gigabit availability stands at 45.2% in Barnard Castle and 65.5% in Shildon.
Shildon is the faster of the two by 40% on average download speed (353 vs 251 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Shildon is band C (score 71.4), ahead of Barnard Castle's band C (score 69.5). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,477 in Barnard Castle and £1,197 in Shildon. 57% of homes in Barnard Castle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Shildon.
Shildon has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 57% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Barnard Castle has a population of 5,783 while Shildon has 10,053. Median household income is £30,753.4 in Barnard Castle and £27,988 in Shildon. The median age is 47.8 in Barnard Castle and 44.5 in Shildon. Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Barnard Castle and 53.6% in Shildon.
| Indicator | Barnard Castle | Shildon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,783 | 10,053 |
| 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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Is Barnard Castle or Shildon safer?
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