Darlington vs Ferryhill
Which is better to live in? Distance: 10.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Ferryhill wins on house prices with a 73% gap. Ferryhill has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Darlington edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darlington
£182,726
Ferryhill
£105,863
Crime Rate
Darlington
90.9
Ferryhill
89.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darlington
92.6%
Ferryhill
75.0%
Avg Download Speed
Darlington
452.8
Ferryhill
284.4
EPC Rating
Darlington
71.4
Ferryhill
71.5
Median Income
Darlington
£27,988
Ferryhill
£28,414
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastProperty in Darlington commands an average of £182,726, compared with £105,863 in Ferryhill – a difference of 73%. The most affordable entry point in Darlington is a flat at £109,070, while in Ferryhill it is a terraced at £69,269.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 77% pricier in Darlington (£122,880 vs £69,269).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Ferryhill prices grew faster — 23% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastResidents of Ferryhill experience less crime overall, with a rate of 89.3 per 1,000 versus 90.9 per 1,000 in Darlington. The most common crime category in Darlington is violent-crime, while in Ferryhill 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 EastFamilies may prefer Darlington, where 92.6% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 75% in Ferryhill. There are 31 schools in Darlington and 5 in Ferryhill.
Darlington School Inspection Breakdown
92.6% of 31 schools (24 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Ferryhill School Inspection Breakdown
75% of 5 schools (4 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darlington | Ferryhill |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 31 | 5 |
| Primary | 24 | 4 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 92.6% | 75% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 452.8 Mbps in Darlington and 284.4 Mbps in Ferryhill. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Darlington and 89.6% in Ferryhill. Gigabit availability stands at 89% in Darlington and 49.8% in Ferryhill.
Darlington is the faster of the two by 59% on average download speed (453 vs 284 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Ferryhill, scoring 71.5 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Darlington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,197 in Darlington and £1,191 in Ferryhill. 65.6% of homes in Darlington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 68.5% in Ferryhill.
Ferryhill 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 Ferryhill and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 44.5 in Darlington and 44.7 in Ferryhill. Employment rates stand at 53.6% in Darlington and 51.2% in Ferryhill. Owner-occupancy is 62.6% in Darlington versus 62.5% in Ferryhill. Darlington has a population of 93,058 and Ferryhill has 8,857.
| Indicator | Darlington | Ferryhill |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 93,058 | 8,857 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 44.7 |
| Median Household Income | £27,988 | £28,414 |
| Employment Rate | 53.6% | 51.2% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.6% | 62.5% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 26.7% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darlington and Ferryhill?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Darlington or Ferryhill?
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Which has faster broadband, Darlington or Ferryhill?
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