Town comparison
Crook vs Darlington
Which is better to live in? 14.9 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Property in Crook is about 6% cheaper on average. Darlington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Crook edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Crook
£171,351
Darlington
£182,726
Crime Rate
Crook
119.5
Darlington
90.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Crook
100.0%
Darlington
92.6%
Avg Download Speed
Crook
378.8
Darlington
452.8
EPC Rating
Crook
71.5
Darlington
71.4
Median Income
Crook
£28,414
Darlington
£27,988
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastThe average house price in Crook is £171,351, which is 6% less than Darlington at £182,726. The most affordable entry point in Crook is a flat at £31,000, while in Darlington it is a flat at £109,070.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 72% pricier in Darlington (£109,070 vs £31,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Crook prices grew faster — 59% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastWith 90.9 offences per 1,000 people, Darlington is the safer of the two – 31% lower than Crook's 119.5 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Crook 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 EastCrook has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 92.6% in Darlington. Crook has 3 schools in total, while Darlington has 31.
Crook School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 3 schools (3 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 | Crook | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 3 | 31 |
| Primary | 3 | 24 |
| Secondary | 0 | 7 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 92.6% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Darlington offers faster average downloads at 452.8 Mbps, compared to 378.8 Mbps in Crook. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 91.3% of premises in Crook and 95.8% in Darlington. Gigabit availability stands at 72.4% in Crook and 89% in Darlington.
Darlington is the faster of the two by 20% on average download speed (453 vs 379 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Crook are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 71.5 (band C) versus 71.4 (band C) in Darlington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,191 in Crook and £1,197 in Darlington. 68.5% of homes in Crook have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 65.6% in Darlington.
Crook 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 Crook and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 44.7 in Crook and 44.5 in Darlington. Employment rates stand at 51.2% in Crook and 53.6% in Darlington. Owner-occupancy is 62.5% in Crook versus 62.6% in Darlington.
| Indicator | Crook | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,717 | 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 Crook and Darlington?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Crook or Darlington?
Is Crook or Darlington safer?
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