Bowburn vs Shildon
Which is better to live in? Distance: 8.8 miles apart.
The verdict
Property in Shildon is about 30% cheaper on average. Bowburn has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowburn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bowburn
£142,993
Shildon
£109,813
Crime Rate
Bowburn
89.4
Shildon
149.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bowburn
100.0%
Shildon
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bowburn
349.2
Shildon
352.5
EPC Rating
Bowburn
71.5
Shildon
71.4
Median Income
Bowburn
£28,414
Shildon
£27,988
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastBuyers will find Shildon more wallet-friendly, where the average price is £109,813 versus £142,993 in Bowburn. The most affordable entry point in Bowburn is a terraced at £95,398, while in Shildon it is a terraced at £59,648.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 60% pricier in Bowburn (£95,398 vs £59,648).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Shildon prices grew faster — 12% vs 11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 89.4 offences per 1,000 people, Bowburn is the safer of the two – 67% lower than Shildon's 149.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Bowburn is violent-crime, while in Shildon 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 Bowburn: 100% of its schools are in the top two inspection bands, compared with 100% in Shildon.
Bowburn School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Shildon School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bowburn | Shildon |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 3 |
| Primary | 1 | 3 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Internet users in Shildon enjoy 352.5 Mbps on average, while Bowburn lags behind at 349.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Bowburn and 95.6% in Shildon. Gigabit availability stands at 64.5% in Bowburn and 65.5% in Shildon.
Shildon is the faster of the two by 1% on average download speed (353 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
The average EPC rating in Bowburn is band C (score 71.5), ahead of Shildon's band C (score 71.4). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,191 in Bowburn and £1,197 in Shildon. 68.5% of homes in Bowburn have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Shildon.
Bowburn has more energy-efficient housing — 68.5% reach band C or above, vs 65.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Bowburn has a population of 4,843 while Shildon has 10,053. Median household income is £28,414 in Bowburn and £27,988 in Shildon. The median age is 44.7 in Bowburn and 44.5 in Shildon. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Bowburn and 53.6% in Shildon.
| Indicator | Bowburn | Shildon |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,843 | 10,053 |
| 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 Shildon?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bowburn or Shildon?
Is Bowburn or Shildon safer?
Which has better schools, Bowburn or Shildon?
Which has faster broadband, Bowburn or Shildon?
Keep exploring