Town comparison
Birtley vs Fence Houses
Which is better to live in? 4.5 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Fence Houses is about 89% 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
Fence Houses
£97,500
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Fence Houses
94.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Fence Houses
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Fence Houses
455.9
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Fence Houses
72.4
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Fence Houses
£28,343
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Fence Houses is £97,500, which is 89% less than Birtley at £184,121. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Fence Houses it is a semi-detached at £97,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 94% pricier in Birtley (£189,116 vs £97,500).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 7 years, Birtley prices grew faster — 29% vs -2%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastCrime is lower in Birtley (89.8 per 1,000) compared to Fence Houses (94.6 per 1,000), a 5% difference. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in Fence Houses 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 Fence Houses. Birtley has 7 schools in total, while Fence Houses has 2.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Fence Houses School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birtley | Fence Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 2 |
| Primary | 6 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Fence Houses offers faster average downloads at 455.9 Mbps, compared to 406.6 Mbps in Birtley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 96.4% in Fence Houses. Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 89.1% in Fence Houses.
Fence Houses is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (456 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Fence Houses are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 72.4 (band C) versus 71.8 (band C) in Birtley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,124 in Fence Houses. 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.4% in Fence Houses.
Fence Houses has more energy-efficient housing — 71.4% reach band C or above, vs 69.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,342.5 in Fence Houses and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 44.5 in Fence Houses. Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 51.5% in Fence Houses. Owner-occupancy is 59.5% in Birtley versus 60.3% in Fence Houses.
| Indicator | Birtley | Fence Houses |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 6,945 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,058.3 | £28,342.5 |
| Employment Rate | 52.4% | 51.5% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.5% | 60.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.4% | 25.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birtley and Fence Houses?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birtley or Fence Houses?
Is Birtley or Fence Houses safer?
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