Bowburn vs Darlington
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.5 miles apart.
The verdict
Bowburn is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 22% lower. Bowburn has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowburn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bowburn
£142,993
Darlington
£182,726
Crime Rate
Bowburn
89.4
Darlington
90.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bowburn
100.0%
Darlington
92.6%
Avg Download Speed
Bowburn
349.2
Darlington
452.8
EPC Rating
Bowburn
71.5
Darlington
71.4
Median Income
Bowburn
£28,414
Darlington
£27,988
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £142,993, Bowburn undercuts Darlington (£182,726) by around 22% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bowburn is a terraced at £95,398, while in Darlington it is a flat at £109,070.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 25% pricier in Darlington (£307,236 vs £231,542).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bowburn prices grew faster — 11% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastBowburn has a crime rate of 89.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 2% lower than Darlington at 90.9 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bowburn is violent-crime, while in Darlington 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 EastOf the 1 schools in Bowburn, 100% are in the top two inspection bands. In Darlington, which has 31 schools, the figure is 92.6%.
Bowburn School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Darlington School Inspection Breakdown
92.6% of 31 schools (24 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bowburn | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 31 |
| Primary | 1 | 24 |
| Secondary | 0 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 92.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Darlington averages 452.8 Mbps – ahead of Bowburn's 349.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Bowburn and 95.8% in Darlington. Gigabit availability stands at 64.5% in Bowburn and 89% in Darlington.
Darlington is the faster of the two by 30% on average download speed (453 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bowburn, scoring 71.5 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Darlington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,191 in Bowburn and £1,197 in Darlington. 68.5% of homes in Bowburn have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Darlington.
Bowburn has more energy-efficient housing — 68.5% reach band C or above, vs 65.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,414 in Bowburn and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 44.7 in Bowburn and 44.5 in Darlington. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Bowburn and 53.6% in Darlington. Owner-occupancy is 62.5% in Bowburn versus 62.6% in Darlington. Bowburn has a population of 4,843 and Darlington has 93,058.
| Indicator | Bowburn | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,843 | 93,058 |
| Median Age | 44.7 | 44.5 |
| Median Household Income | £28,414 | £27,988 |
| Employment Rate | 51.2% | 53.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.5% | 62.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 26.7% | 27.9% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bowburn and Darlington?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bowburn or Darlington?
Is Bowburn or Darlington safer?
Which has better schools, Bowburn or Darlington?
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