Barnard Castle vs Willington (County Durham)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Willington (county Durham) is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 16% 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
Willington (County Durham)
£252,550
Crime Rate
Barnard Castle
89.4
Willington (County Durham)
89.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Barnard Castle
100.0%
Willington (County Durham)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Barnard Castle
250.9
Willington (County Durham)
378.8
EPC Rating
Barnard Castle
69.5
Willington (County Durham)
71.5
Median Income
Barnard Castle
£30,753
Willington (County Durham)
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastProperty in Barnard Castle commands an average of £293,865, compared with £252,550 in Willington (county Durham) – a difference of 16%. The most affordable entry point in Barnard Castle is a flat at £104,792, while in Willington (county Durham) it is a terraced at £113,260.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 77% pricier in Barnard Castle (£200,181 vs £113,260).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Barnard Castle prices grew faster — 55% vs -11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastBarnard Castle has a crime rate of 89.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 1% lower than Willington (county Durham) at 89.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Barnard Castle is violent-crime, while in Willington (county Durham) 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 100% in Willington (county Durham). There are 4 schools in Barnard Castle and 4 in Willington (county Durham).
Barnard Castle School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Willington (County Durham) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Barnard Castle | Willington (County Durham) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 4 |
| Primary | 3 | 3 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 378.8 Mbps in Willington (county Durham) and 250.9 Mbps in Barnard Castle. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 71.7% of premises in Barnard Castle and 91.3% in Willington (county Durham). Gigabit availability stands at 45.2% in Barnard Castle and 72.4% in Willington (county Durham).
Willington (county Durham) is the faster of the two by 51% on average download speed (379 vs 251 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Willington (county Durham) leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.5 (C), while Barnard Castle averages 69.5 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,477 in Barnard Castle and £1,191 in Willington (county Durham). 57% of homes in Barnard Castle have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Willington (county Durham).
Willington (county Durham) 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 Willington (county Durham). The median age is 47.8 in Barnard Castle and 44.7 in Willington (county Durham). Owner-occupancy is 68.7% in Barnard Castle versus 62.5% in Willington (county Durham). Employment rates stand at 56.3% in Barnard Castle and 51.2% in Willington (county Durham).
| Indicator | Barnard Castle | Willington (County Durham) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,783 | 5,685 |
| 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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Is Barnard Castle or Willington (county Durham) safer?
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