Town comparison
Darlington vs Yarm
Which is better to live in? 8.3 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Darlington is the more affordable option, with average house prices around 46% lower. Darlington has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Yarm edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Darlington
£182,726
Yarm
£337,997
Crime Rate
Darlington
90.9
Yarm
113.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Darlington
92.6%
Yarm
100.0%
Avg Download Speed
Darlington
452.8
Yarm
299.8
EPC Rating
Darlington
71.4
Yarm
70.4
Median Income
Darlington
£27,988
Yarm
£29,717
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in North EastAt £182,726, Darlington undercuts Yarm (£337,997) by around 46% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Darlington is a flat at £109,070, while in Yarm it is a flat at £153,938.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: terraced homes are 45% pricier in Yarm (£222,152 vs £122,880).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Yarm prices grew faster — 0% vs -10%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in North EastDarlington has a crime rate of 90.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 25% lower than Yarm at 113.3 per 1,000. The most common crime category in Darlington is violent-crime, while in Yarm 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 Yarm, which has 4 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.
Yarm School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Darlington | Yarm |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 31 | 4 |
| Primary | 24 | 3 |
| Secondary | 7 | 1 |
| % Top two bands | 92.6% | 100% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Darlington averages 452.8 Mbps – ahead of Yarm's 299.8 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 95.8% of premises in Darlington and 89.9% in Yarm. Gigabit availability stands at 89% in Darlington and 54% in Yarm.
Darlington is the faster of the two by 51% on average download speed (453 vs 300 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Darlington leads on energy efficiency with an average EPC score of 71.4 (C), while Yarm averages 70.4 (C). Estimated annual energy costs average £1,197 in Darlington and £1,398 in Yarm. 65.6% of homes in Darlington have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 60.4% in Yarm.
Darlington has more energy-efficient housing — 65.6% reach band C or above, vs 60.4% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £29,716.5 in Yarm and £27,988 in Darlington. The median age is 44.5 in Darlington and 47.4 in Yarm. Owner-occupancy is 62.6% in Darlington versus 68.1% in Yarm. Employment rates stand at 53.6% in Darlington and 56.6% in Yarm.
| Indicator | Darlington | Yarm |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 93,058 | 9,601 |
| Median Age | 44.5 | 47.4 |
| Median Household Income | £27,988 | £29,716.5 |
| Employment Rate | 53.6% | 56.6% |
| Owner Occupied | 62.6% | 68.1% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.9% | 33.6% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Darlington and Yarm?
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