Birtley vs Murton (County Durham)
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.0 miles apart.
The verdict
Murton (county Durham) is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 47% lower. Birtley has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birtley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birtley
£184,121
Murton (County Durham)
£125,598
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Murton (County Durham)
89.8
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Murton (County Durham)
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Murton (County Durham)
358.6
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Murton (County Durham)
72.4
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Murton (County Durham)
£28,343
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastProperty in Birtley commands an average of £184,121, compared with £125,598 in Murton (county Durham) – a difference of 47%. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Murton (county Durham) it is a flat at £75,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 50% pricier in Birtley (£189,116 vs £125,920).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birtley prices grew faster — 29% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastBirtley has a crime rate of 89.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Murton (county Durham) at 89.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in Murton (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 EastFamilies may prefer Birtley, where 100% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 100% in Murton (county Durham). There are 7 schools in Birtley and 2 in Murton (county Durham).
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Murton (County Durham) School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birtley | Murton (County Durham) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 2 |
| Primary | 6 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 406.6 Mbps in Birtley and 358.6 Mbps in Murton (county Durham). Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 96.5% in Murton (county Durham). Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 61.4% in Murton (county Durham).
Birtley is the faster of the two by 13% on average download speed (407 vs 359 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Murton (county Durham) leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 72.4 (C), while Birtley averages 71.8 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,124 in Murton (county Durham). 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 71.4% in Murton (county Durham).
Murton (county Durham) 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 Murton (county Durham) and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 44.5 in Murton (county Durham). Owner-occupancy is 59.5% in Birtley versus 60.3% in Murton (county Durham). Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 51.5% in Murton (county Durham).
| Indicator | Birtley | Murton (County Durham) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 7,239 |
| 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 Murton (county Durham)?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Birtley or Murton (county Durham)?
Is Birtley or Murton (county Durham) safer?
Which has better schools, Birtley or Murton (county Durham)?
Which has faster broadband, Birtley or Murton (county Durham)?
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