Birtley vs Brandon (County Durham)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.1 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Birtley is about 17% cheaper on average. Birtley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birtley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birtley
£184,121
Brandon (County Durham)
£220,636
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Brandon (County Durham)
118.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Brandon (County Durham)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Brandon (County Durham)
171.3
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Brandon (County Durham)
71.5
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Brandon (County Durham)
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Birtley is £184,121, which is 17% less than Brandon (county Durham) at £220,636. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Brandon (county Durham) it is a flat at £96,778.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 36% pricier in Brandon (county Durham) (£178,647 vs £114,757).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Brandon (county Durham) prices grew faster — 40% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastCrime is lower in Birtley (89.8 per 1,000) compared to Brandon (county Durham) (118 per 1,000), a 31% difference. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in Brandon (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 EastBirtley has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 100% in Brandon (county Durham). Birtley has 7 schools in total, while Brandon (county Durham) has 4.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Brandon (County Durham) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (4 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birtley | Brandon (County Durham) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 4 |
| Primary | 6 | 4 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Birtley offers faster average downloads at 406.6 Mbps, compared to 171.3 Mbps in Brandon (county Durham). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 87.9% in Brandon (county Durham). Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 23.6% in Brandon (county Durham).
Birtley is the faster of the two by 137% on average download speed (407 vs 171 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Birtley are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.8 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Brandon (county Durham). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,191 in Brandon (county Durham). 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Brandon (county Durham).
Birtley has more energy-efficient housing — 69.2% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,414 in Brandon (county Durham) and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 44.7 in Brandon (county Durham). Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 51.2% in Brandon (county Durham). Owner-occupancy is 59.5% in Birtley versus 62.5% in Brandon (county Durham).
| Indicator | Birtley | Brandon (County Durham) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 9,508 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 44.7 |
| Median Household Income | £28,058.3 | £28,414 |
| Employment Rate | 52.4% | 51.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.5% | 62.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.4% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birtley and Brandon (county Durham)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birtley or Brandon (county Durham)?
Is Birtley or Brandon (county Durham) safer?
Which has better schools, Birtley or Brandon (county Durham)?
Which has faster broadband, Birtley or Brandon (county Durham)?
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