Birtley vs Wideopen
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.7 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Birtley is about 19% cheaper on average. Wideopen has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Birtley edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Birtley
£184,121
Wideopen
£226,138
Crime Rate
Birtley
89.8
Wideopen
82.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Birtley
100.0%
Wideopen
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Birtley
406.6
Wideopen
384.8
EPC Rating
Birtley
71.8
Wideopen
72.1
Median Income
Birtley
£28,058
Wideopen
£29,890
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastBuyers will find Birtley more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £184,121 versus £226,138 in Wideopen. The most affordable entry point in Birtley is a flat at £68,516, while in Wideopen it is a flat at £130,125.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 47% pricier in Wideopen (£214,895 vs £114,757).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Birtley prices grew faster — 29% vs 9%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 82.1 offences per 1,000 people, Wideopen is the safer of the two – 9% lower than Birtley's 89.8 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Birtley is violent-crime, while in Wideopen 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 favours Birtley: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Wideopen.
Birtley School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 7 schools (6 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Wideopen School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Birtley | Wideopen |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 7 | 2 |
| Primary | 6 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Birtley enjoy 406.6 Mbps on average, while Wideopen lags behind at 384.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.8% of premises in Birtley and 92.8% in Wideopen. Gigabit availability stands at 78.4% in Birtley and 72.6% in Wideopen.
Birtley is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (407 vs 385 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Wideopen is band C (score 72.1), ahead of Birtley's band C (score 71.8). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,117 in Birtley and £1,189 in Wideopen. 69.2% of homes in Birtley have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 69.3% in Wideopen.
Wideopen has more energy-efficient housing — 69.3% reach band C or above, vs 69.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Birtley has a population of 13,840 while Wideopen has 5,155. Median household income is £29,889.7 in Wideopen and £28,058.3 in Birtley. The median age is 44.5 in Birtley and 43.9 in Wideopen. Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Birtley and 53.1% in Wideopen.
| Indicator | Birtley | Wideopen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,840 | 5,155 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 43.9 |
| Median Household Income | £28,058.3 | £29,889.7 |
| Employment Rate | 52.4% | 53.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 59.5% | 59.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.4% | 32.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Birtley and Wideopen?
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