Town comparison
Birtley vs Durham
Which is better to live in? 7.7 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Birtley is about 18% cheaper on average. Durham has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birtley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birtley
£184,121
Durham
£224,118
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Durham
89.4
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Durham
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Durham
347.6
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Durham
71.5
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Durham
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Birtley is £184,121, which is 18% less than Durham at £224,118. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Durham it is a flat at £145,461.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 53% pricier in Durham (£145,461 vs £68,516).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birtley prices grew faster — 29% vs -2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 89.4 offences per 1,000 people, Durham is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Birtley's 89.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in 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 Durham. Birtley has 7 schools in total, while Durham has 19.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Durham School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 19 schools (15 primary, 4 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birtley | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 19 |
| Primary | 6 | 15 |
| Secondary | 1 | 4 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Birtley offers faster average downloads at 406.6 Mbps, compared to 347.6 Mbps in Durham. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 95% in Durham. Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 64.3% in Durham.
Birtley is the faster of the two by 17% on average download speed (407 vs 348 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 Durham. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,191 in Durham. 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in 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 Durham and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 44.7 in Durham. Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 51.2% in Durham. Owner-occupancy is 59.5% in Birtley versus 62.5% in Durham.
| Indicator | Birtley | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 50,502 |
| 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 Durham?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birtley or Durham?
Is Birtley or Durham safer?
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