Blyth (Northumberland) vs Gateshead

Which is better to live in? Distance: 12.5 miles apart.

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The verdict

When it comes to cost of living, Blyth (northumberland) wins on house prices with a 5% gap. Blyth (northumberland) has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Gateshead edges ahead on school quality.

Avg House Price

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Blyth (Northumberland)

£162,107

Gateshead

£171,195

Crime Rate

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Blyth (Northumberland)

71.5

Gateshead

89.9

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

Blyth (Northumberland)

88.9%

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Gateshead

96.7%

Avg Download Speed

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Blyth (Northumberland)

473.8

Gateshead

413.6

EPC Rating

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Blyth (Northumberland)

70.9

Gateshead

70.6

Median Income

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Blyth (Northumberland)

£29,915

Gateshead

£27,490

House Prices (2025)

Most affordable in North East

Property in Gateshead commands an average of £171,195, compared with £162,107 in Blyth (northumberland) – a difference of 5%. The most affordable entry point in Blyth (northumberland) is a flat at £71,630, while in Gateshead it is a flat at £102,941.

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Biggest gap: flat homes are 30% pricier in Gateshead (£102,941 vs £71,630).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Over the last 9 years, Gateshead prices grew faster — 22% vs 19%.

Crime & Safety

Safest in North East

Residents of Blyth (northumberland) experience less crime overall, with a rate of 71.5 per 1,000 versus 89.9 per 1,000 in Gateshead. The most common crime category in Blyth (northumberland) is violent-crime, while in Gateshead 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

Families may prefer Gateshead, where 96.7% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 88.9% in Blyth (northumberland). There are 9 schools in Blyth (northumberland) and 41 in Gateshead.

Blyth (Northumberland) School Inspection Breakdown

88.9% of 9 schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Gateshead School Inspection Breakdown

96.7% of 41 schools (35 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

Metric	Blyth (Northumberland)	Gateshead
Total Schools	9	41
Primary	7	35
Secondary	2	6
% Top two bands	88.9%	96.7%

Broadband & Connectivity

Average broadband speeds are 473.8 Mbps in Blyth (northumberland) and 413.6 Mbps in Gateshead. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 98.8% of premises in Blyth (northumberland) and 95.5% in Gateshead. Gigabit availability stands at 93.3% in Blyth (northumberland) and 77.3% in Gateshead.

Blyth (northumberland) is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (474 vs 414 Mbps).

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Energy efficiency favours Blyth (northumberland), scoring 70.9 on average (band C) compared to 70.6 (band C) in Gateshead. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,377 in Blyth (northumberland) and £1,103 in Gateshead. 65.6% of homes in Blyth (northumberland) have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 64.6% in Gateshead.

Blyth (northumberland) has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 64.6% in the other.

Demographics & Economy

Median household income is £29,915 in Blyth (northumberland) and £27,490 in Gateshead. The median age is 47.9 in Blyth (northumberland) and 44.4 in Gateshead. Employment rates stand at 52.4% in Blyth (northumberland) and 54.1% in Gateshead. Owner-occupancy is 65.2% in Blyth (northumberland) versus 58% in Gateshead. Blyth (northumberland) has a population of 39,731 and Gateshead has 114,825.

Indicator	Blyth (Northumberland)	Gateshead
Population	39,731	114,825
Median Age	47.9	44.4
Median Household Income	£29,915	£27,490
Employment Rate	52.4%	54.1%
Owner Occupied	65.2%	58%
Degree-Level Qualified	30.7%	28%

Location

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How far apart are Blyth (northumberland) and Gateshead?

Blyth (northumberland) and Gateshead are approximately 12.5 miles apart as the crow flies.

Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Blyth (northumberland) or Gateshead?

Blyth (northumberland) is cheaper, with an average house price of £162,107.

Is Blyth (northumberland) or Gateshead safer?

Blyth (northumberland) has the lower crime rate at 71.5 per 1,000 residents.

Which has better schools, Blyth (northumberland) or Gateshead?

Gateshead has the higher share of schools in the top two inspection bands at 96.7%.

Which has faster broadband, Blyth (northumberland) or Gateshead?

Blyth (northumberland) has faster average broadband at 473.8 Mbps.

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