Town Pop. 27,931

Living in Ashington (Northumberland): Liveability Score 49/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Ashington (Northumberland) scores 49/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 52/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is safety: 23/100 versus a median of 88/100.

On the national picture that lands Ashington (Northumberland) in the middle half of all the places we score. For the surrounding area, see NE63 postcode district.

49
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Ashington (Northumberland) scores 49 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Ashington (Northumberland).
Or compare:
NE63 0AE NE63 3EU NE63 8AA NE63 9AA NE63

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
23
138.4 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 1,344 crimes
↑ 44% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 671 crimes
↑ 58% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 389 crimes
↑ 104% above national average
Shoplifting 349 crimes
↑ 60% above national average
Public order 295 crimes
↑ 63% above national average
other 819 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Parking Area 339 crimes
  2. 2 Ashington Bus Station 137 crimes
  3. 3 Hedley Way 132 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
70
Air Quality NO₂ 4.8 · PM2.5 5.1 · PM10 8.5 µg/m³
79
Green Space 49
Parks Ample 14
Sports Pitches Ample 19
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens Adequate 2
Playgrounds Ample 21

Services

Schools
54
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 12 in area · 16 within 4km
1Outstanding9Good1Requires Improvement1Ungraded
  • Bothal Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • Ashington AcademySecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Central Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • NCEA Bishop's Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • NCEA Castle SchoolSpecial · inspected 2022
    Good
  • NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Ringway Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, AshingtonPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Stakeford Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
52
A&E departmentsNorthumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital6.2 mi
Royal Victoria Infirmary13 mi
South Tyneside District Hospital13.8 mi
Hospital waitsNorthumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust0.3 mi
Routine referral (median)9 wks
Treated within 18 weeks82.8%
A&E seen within 4 hrs91.1%
1 GP surgery in area 2 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity1,579 patients per GP
6dentists7pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
75
Full fibre (FTTP)81.6%
available across Northumberland
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
98%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
96.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 676 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
29
Employment rate52.3%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed52.3%Unemployed4.2%Retired24.5%Student3.5%Other inactive15.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial28.1%Skilled & technical33.3%Routine & elementary38.7%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications22.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.4%Level 3 (A levels)19.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)22%Apprenticeship7%Other (incl. vocational)2.4%
Home ownership56.4%
Among the most-deprived 33% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
35
Council tax Northumberland · 2026-27
A £1,731
B £2,020
C £2,308
D £2,597
E £3,174
F £3,751
G £4,328
H £5,194
Energy North East England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Northumbrian Water
Average bill regional £435/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
52
Ashington 0.6 mi
Bedlington 2.5 mi
Pegswood 3.3 mi
J3 A194(M) 16.1 mi
J2 A194(M) 16.6 mi
J2 A194(M) 17 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
51
Pubs & Bars Ample 13
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 8
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 32
Retail Shopping Ample 112
Takeaways Ample 27
Fitness Adequate 3

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £125,000 170
Detached £249,950 37
Semi-detached £163,000 39
Terraced £105,250 84
Flat / Maisonette £67,252 10
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£51k £120k £192k £262k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Bomarsund 0 1.5 mi away ⇄
Stakeford 47 1.5 mi away ⇄
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea 41 1.8 mi away ⇄
Woodhorn 0 1.9 mi away ⇄
Cambois 0 2.0 mi away ⇄
Choppington 47 2.3 mi away ⇄
Lynemouth 34 2.5 mi away ⇄
Bedlington 47 3.1 mi away ⇄
Ellington (Northumberland) 37 3.1 mi away ⇄
Pegswood 46 3.4 mi away ⇄
Blyth (Northumberland) 51 4.0 mi away ⇄
Hepscott 58 4.1 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Ashington (Northumberland) a nice place to live?

Ashington (Northumberland) has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Ashington (Northumberland) is 49/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Ashington (Northumberland)?

Crime levels in Ashington (Northumberland) are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 23/100. There were 3,867 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Ashington (Northumberland)?

Among the top-rated schools in Ashington (Northumberland) are Bothal Primary School, Ashington Academy and Central Primary School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 12 rated schools in Ashington (Northumberland) in total.

What are house prices like in Ashington (Northumberland)?

The current median house price in Ashington (Northumberland) is £125,000, around 56% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £249,950, semi-detached £163,000, terraced £105,250, flat £67,252. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 3%. There were 170 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Ashington (Northumberland) in context

See where Ashington (Northumberland) ranks among the best places to live in Northumberland

Postcode districts in Ashington (Northumberland)

NE63 50 ⇄

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