Birtley vs Houghton-le-Spring
Which is better to live in? Distance: 5.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Houghton Le Spring wins on house prices with a 17% gap. Birtley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birtley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birtley
£184,121
Houghton-le-Spring
£157,342
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Houghton-le-Spring
94.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Houghton-le-Spring
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Houghton-le-Spring
455.9
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Houghton-le-Spring
72.4
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Houghton-le-Spring
£28,343
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastProperty in Birtley commands an average of £184,121, compared with £157,342 in Houghton Le Spring – a difference of 17%. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Houghton Le Spring it is a flat at £77,498.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 24% pricier in Birtley (£189,116 vs £152,279).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birtley prices grew faster — 29% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastResidents of Birtley experience less crime overall, with a rate of 89.8 per 1,000 versus 94.5 per 1,000 in Houghton Le Spring. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in Houghton Le Spring 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 EastFamilies may prefer Birtley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Houghton Le Spring. There are 7 schools in Birtley and 6 in Houghton Le Spring.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Houghton-le-Spring School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 6 schools (5 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birtley | Houghton-le-Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 6 |
| Primary | 6 | 5 |
| Secondary | 1 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 455.9 Mbps in Houghton Le Spring and 406.6 Mbps in Birtley. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 96.4% in Houghton Le Spring. Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 89.1% in Houghton Le Spring.
Houghton Le Spring is the faster of the two by 12% on average download speed (456 vs 407 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Houghton Le Spring, scoring 72.4 on average (band C) compared to 71.8 (band C) in Birtley. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,124 in Houghton Le Spring. 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.4% in Houghton Le Spring.
Houghton Le Spring 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 Houghton Le Spring and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 44.5 in Houghton Le Spring. Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 51.5% in Houghton Le Spring. Owner-occupancy is 59.5% in Birtley versus 60.3% in Houghton Le Spring. Birtley has a population of 13,840 and Houghton Le Spring has 12,552.
| Indicator | Birtley | Houghton-le-Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 12,552 |
| 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
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