Bishop Auckland vs Shotton Colliery

Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.8 miles apart.

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The verdict

Property in Shotton Colliery is about 44% cheaper on average. Shotton Colliery has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Shotton Colliery edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

Bishop Auckland

£164,905

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Shotton Colliery

£114,172

Crime Rate

Bishop Auckland

89.4

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Shotton Colliery

89.2

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Bishop Auckland

71.4%

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Shotton Colliery

100.0%

Avg Download Speed

Bishop Auckland

250.4

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Shotton Colliery

349.2

EPC Rating

Bishop Auckland

71.5

Shotton Colliery

71.5

Median Income

Bishop Auckland

£28,414

Shotton Colliery

£28,414

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in North East

The average house price in Shotton Colliery is £114,172, which is 44% less than Bishop Auckland at £164,905. The most affordable entry point in Bishop Auckland is a flat at £68,224, while in Shotton Colliery it is a terraced at £81,515.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: detached homes are 40% pricier in Bishop Auckland (£270,957 vs £193,000).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Bishop Auckland prices grew faster — 24% vs 9%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in North East

With 89.2 offences per 1,000 people, Shotton Colliery is the safer of the two – 0% lower than Bishop Auckland's 89.4 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bishop Auckland is violent-crime, while in Shotton Colliery 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 East

Shotton Colliery has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 71.4% in Bishop Auckland. Bishop Auckland has 11 schools in total, while Shotton Colliery has 2.

Bishop Auckland School Inspection Breakdown

71.4% of 11 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Shotton Colliery School Inspection Breakdown

100% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Bishop Auckland	Shotton Colliery
Total Schools	11	2
Primary	8	2
Secondary	3	0
% Top two bands	71.4%	100%

Broadband & Connectivity

Shotton Colliery offers faster average downloads at 349.2 Mbps, compared to 250.4 Mbps in Bishop Auckland. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 88.3% of premises in Bishop Auckland and 93.3% in Shotton Colliery. Gigabit availability stands at 42.3% in Bishop Auckland and 64.5% in Shotton Colliery.

Shotton Colliery is the faster of the two by 39% on average download speed (349 vs 250 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Homes in Bishop Auckland are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.5 (band C) versus 71.5 (band C) in Shotton Colliery. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,191 in Bishop Auckland and £1,191 in Shotton Colliery. 68.5% of homes in Bishop Auckland have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Shotton Colliery.

Bishop Auckland has more energy-efficient housing — 68.5% reach band C or above, vs 68.5% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £28,414 in Bishop Auckland and £28,414 in Shotton Colliery. The median age is 44.7 in Bishop Auckland and 44.7 in Shotton Colliery. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Bishop Auckland and 51.2% in Shotton Colliery. Owner-occupancy is 62.5% in Bishop Auckland versus 62.5% in Shotton Colliery.

Indicator	Bishop Auckland	Shotton Colliery
Population	22,594	4,943
Median Age	44.7	44.7
Median Household Income	£28,414	£28,414
Employment Rate	51.2%	51.2%
Owner Occupied	62.5%	62.5%
Degree-Level Qualified	26.7%	26.7%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Bishop Auckland and Shotton Colliery?

Bishop Auckland and Shotton Colliery are approximately 13.8 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bishop Auckland or Shotton Colliery?

Shotton Colliery is cheaper, with an average house price of £114,172.

Is Bishop Auckland or Shotton Colliery safer?

Shotton Colliery has the lower crime rate at 89.2 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Bishop Auckland or Shotton Colliery?

Shotton Colliery has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 100%.

Which has faster broadband, Bishop Auckland or Shotton Colliery?

Shotton Colliery has faster average broadband at 349.2 Mbps.

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