Billingham vs Bowburn
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Bowburn offers lower property prices by roughly 9%. Bowburn has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowburn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Billingham
£155,837
Bowburn
£142,993
Crime Rate
Billingham
99.7
Bowburn
89.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Billingham
88.9%
Bowburn
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Billingham
454.1
Bowburn
349.2
EPC Rating
Billingham
71.7
Bowburn
71.5
Median Income
Billingham
£27,986
Bowburn
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Bowburn is £142,993, which is 9% less than Billingham at £155,837. The most affordable entry point in Billingham is a flat at £70,812, while in Bowburn it is a terraced at £95,398.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 28% pricier in Billingham (£121,640 vs £95,398).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Billingham prices grew faster — 29% vs 11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 89.4 offences per 1,000 people, Bowburn is the safer of the two – 12% lower than Billingham's 99.7 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Billingham is violent-crime, while in Bowburn 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 EastBowburn has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 88.9% in Billingham. Billingham has 13 schools in total, while Bowburn has 1.
Billingham School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 13 schools (11 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Bowburn School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Billingham | Bowburn |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 1 |
| Primary | 11 | 1 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Billingham offers faster average downloads at 454.1 Mbps, compared to 349.2 Mbps in Bowburn. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Billingham and 93.3% in Bowburn. Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Billingham and 64.5% in Bowburn.
Billingham is the faster of the two by 30% on average download speed (454 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Billingham are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.7 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Bowburn. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,160 in Billingham and £1,191 in Bowburn. 67.4% of homes in Billingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Bowburn.
Bowburn has more energy-efficient housing — 68.5% reach band C or above, vs 67.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,414 in Bowburn and £27,985.5 in Billingham. The median age is 43.2 in Billingham and 44.7 in Bowburn. Employment rates stand at 52.6% in Billingham and 51.2% in Bowburn. Owner-occupancy is 62.2% in Billingham versus 62.5% in Bowburn.
| Indicator | Billingham | Bowburn |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,603 | 4,843 |
| Median Age | 43.2 | 44.7 |
| Median Household Income | £27,985.5 | £28,414 |
| Employment Rate | 52.6% | 51.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.2% | 62.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.1% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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