Bowburn vs Spennymoor
Which is better to live in? Distance: 4.0 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Bowburn wins on house prices with a 5% gap. Bowburn has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Bowburn edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Bowburn
£142,993
Spennymoor
£150,232
Crime Rate
Bowburn
89.4
Spennymoor
89.5
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bowburn
100.0%
Spennymoor
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Bowburn
349.2
Spennymoor
403
EPC Rating
Bowburn
71.5
Spennymoor
71.5
Median Income
Bowburn
£28,414
Spennymoor
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £142,993, Bowburn undercuts Spennymoor (£150,232) by around 5% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bowburn is a terraced at £95,398, while in Spennymoor it is a flat at £89,500.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: detached homes are 6% pricier in Spennymoor (£246,322 vs £231,542).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Spennymoor prices grew faster — 17% vs 11%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastResidents of Bowburn experience less crime overall, with a rate of 89.4 per 1,000 versus 89.5 per 1,000 in Spennymoor. The most common crime category in Bowburn is violent-crime, while in Spennymoor 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 Spennymoor, which has 8 schools, the figure is 100%.
Bowburn School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 1 school (1 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Spennymoor School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 8 schools (7 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Bowburn | Spennymoor |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 1 | 8 |
| Primary | 1 | 7 |
| Secondary | 0 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Spennymoor averages 403.0 Mbps – ahead of Bowburn's 349.2 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 93.3% of premises in Bowburn and 96% in Spennymoor. Gigabit availability stands at 64.5% in Bowburn and 77.5% in Spennymoor.
Spennymoor is the faster of the two by 15% on average download speed (403 vs 349 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bowburn, scoring 71.5 on average (band C) compared to 71.5 (band C) in Spennymoor. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,191 in Bowburn and £1,191 in Spennymoor. 68.5% of homes in Bowburn have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Spennymoor.
Bowburn 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 Bowburn and £28,414 in Spennymoor. The median age is 44.7 in Bowburn and 44.7 in Spennymoor. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Bowburn and 51.2% in Spennymoor. Owner-occupancy is 62.5% in Bowburn versus 62.5% in Spennymoor. Bowburn has a population of 4,843 and Spennymoor has 20,401.
| Indicator | Bowburn | Spennymoor |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,843 | 20,401 |
| 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
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Bowburn and Spennymoor?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Bowburn or Spennymoor?
Is Bowburn or Spennymoor safer?
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