Town comparison
Darlington vs Stockton-on-Tees
Which is better to live in? 9.6 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Stockton On Tees wins on house prices with a 9% gap. Darlington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Stockton On Tees edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darlington
£182,726
Stockton-on-Tees
£168,279
Crime Rate
Darlington
90.9
Stockton-on-Tees
99.7
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darlington
92.6%
Stockton-on-Tees
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Darlington
452.8
Stockton-on-Tees
482.5
EPC Rating
Darlington
71.4
Stockton-on-Tees
71.6
Median Income
Darlington
£27,988
Stockton-on-Tees
£28,467
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £168,279, Stockton On Tees undercuts Darlington (£182,726) by around 9% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Darlington is a flat at £109,070, while in Stockton On Tees it is a flat at £88,937.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 23% pricier in Darlington (£109,070 vs £88,937).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Stockton On Tees prices grew faster — 8% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastResidents of Darlington experience less crime overall, with a rate of 90.9 per 1,000 versus 99.7 per 1,000 in Stockton On Tees. The most common crime category in Darlington is violent-crime, while in Stockton On Tees 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 31 schools in Darlington, 92.6% are in the top two inspection bands. In Stockton On Tees, which has 28 schools, the figure is 100%.
Darlington School Inspection Breakdown
92.6% of 31 schools (24 primary, 7 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Stockton-on-Tees School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 28 schools (23 primary, 5 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darlington | Stockton-on-Tees |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 31 | 28 |
| Primary | 24 | 23 |
| Secondary | 7 | 5 |
| % Top two bands | 92.6% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Stockton On Tees averages 482.5 Mbps – ahead of Darlington's 452.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Darlington and 98.2% in Stockton On Tees. Gigabit availability stands at 89% in Darlington and 96.1% in Stockton On Tees.
Stockton On Tees is the faster of the two by 7% on average download speed (483 vs 453 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Stockton On Tees, scoring 71.6 on average (band C) compared to 71.4 (band C) in Darlington. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,197 in Darlington and £1,160 in Stockton On Tees. 65.6% of homes in Darlington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 66.2% in Stockton On Tees.
Stockton On Tees has more energy-efficient housing — 66.2% reach band C or above, vs 65.6% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £28,467 in Stockton On Tees and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 44.5 in Darlington and 42.9 in Stockton On Tees. Employment rates stand at 53.6% in Darlington and 54.7% in Stockton On Tees. Owner-occupancy is 62.6% in Darlington versus 66.2% in Stockton On Tees. Darlington has a population of 93,058 and Stockton On Tees has 84,824.
| Indicator | Darlington | Stockton-on-Tees |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 93,058 | 84,824 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 42.9 |
| Median Household Income | £27,988 | £28,467 |
| Employment Rate | 53.6% | 54.7% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.6% | 66.2% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 29.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darlington and Stockton On Tees?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Darlington or Stockton On Tees?
Is Darlington or Stockton On Tees safer?
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