Billingham vs Shildon
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.4 miles apart.
The verdict
Overall, Shildon offers lower property prices by roughly 42%. Billingham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shildon edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Billingham
£155,837
Shildon
£109,813
Crime Rate
Billingham
99.7
Shildon
149.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Billingham
88.9%
Shildon
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Billingham
454.1
Shildon
352.5
EPC Rating
Billingham
71.7
Shildon
71.4
Median Income
Billingham
£27,986
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 £155,837 in Billingham. The most affordable entry point in Billingham is a flat at £70,812, while in Shildon it is a terraced at £59,648.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 104% pricier in Billingham (£121,640 vs £59,648).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Billingham prices grew faster — 29% vs 12%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 99.7 offences per 1,000 people, Billingham is the safer of the two – 50% lower than Shildon's 149.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Billingham 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 Shildon: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 88.9% in Billingham.
Billingham School Inspection Breakdown
88.9% of 13 schools (11 primary, 2 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 | Billingham | Shildon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 13 | 3 |
| Primary | 11 | 3 |
| Secondary | 2 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 88.9% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Billingham enjoy 454.1 Mbps on average, while Shildon lags behind at 352.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Billingham and 95.6% in Shildon. Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Billingham and 65.5% in Shildon.
Billingham is the faster of the two by 29% on average download speed (454 vs 353 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Billingham is band C (score 71.7), ahead of Shildon's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,160 in Billingham and £1,197 in Shildon. 67.4% of homes in Billingham have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Shildon.
Billingham has more energy-efficient housing — 67.4% reach band C or above, vs 65.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Billingham has a population of 33,603 while Shildon has 10,053. Median household income is £27,988 in Shildon and £27,985.5 in Billingham. The median age is 43.2 in Billingham and 44.5 in Shildon. Employment rates stand at 52.6% in Billingham and 53.6% in Shildon.
| Indicator | Billingham | Shildon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,603 | 10,053 |
| Median Age | 43.2 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £27,985.5 | £27,988 |
| Employment Rate | 52.6% | 53.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.2% | 62.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.1% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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