Birtley vs Sunniside
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.6 miles apart.
The verdict
Birtley is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 6% lower. Birtley has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Birtley
£184,121
Sunniside
£196,194
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Sunniside
90.0
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Sunniside
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Sunniside
295.5
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Sunniside
71
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Sunniside
£27,952
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £184,121, Birtley undercuts Sunniside (£196,194) by around 6% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Sunniside it is a flat at £92,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 26% pricier in Sunniside (£92,500 vs £68,516).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Sunniside prices grew faster — 64% vs 29%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastBirtley has a crime rate of 89.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 0% lower than Sunniside at 90 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in Sunniside 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 EastSchool quality data is not fully available for both Birtley and Sunniside. Birtley has 7 schools and Sunniside has 0 schools.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Sunniside School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Birtley | Sunniside |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 0 |
| Primary | 6 | 0 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Birtley averages 406.6 Mbps – ahead of Sunniside's 295.5 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 92.7% in Sunniside. Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 52.3% in Sunniside.
Birtley is the faster of the two by 38% on average download speed (407 vs 296 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Birtley, scoring 71.8 on average (band C) compared to 71 (band C) in Sunniside. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,147 in Sunniside. 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.6% in Sunniside.
Birtley has more energy-efficient housing — 69.2% reach band C or above, vs 66.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,058.3 in Birtley and £27,952 in Sunniside. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 44.5 in Sunniside. Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 52.7% in Sunniside. Owner-occupancy is 59.5% in Birtley versus 60.2% in Sunniside. Birtley has a population of 13,840 and Sunniside has 3,422.
| Indicator | Birtley | Sunniside |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 3,422 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,058.3 | £27,952 |
| Employment Rate | 52.4% | 52.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.5% | 60.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.4% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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