Town Pop. 5,895

Living in Barnard Castle: Liveability Score 45/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Barnard Castle scores 45/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, lifestyle stands out most: 53/100 where the typical UK town scores 21/100. Broadband falls furthest short: 22/100 where the typical UK town reaches 60/100.

That is the highest score of the 5 places in the DL12 postcode district. It scores 5 points above the DL12 postcode district as a whole, which averages 40/100. Its lifestyle score runs 23 points above the DL12 district's 30/100. For the surrounding area, see DL12 postcode district.

45
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.

Barnard Castle scores 45 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Barnard Castle.
Or compare:
DL12 0AA DL12 2BY DL12 8AA DL12 9AA DL12

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
50
104 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 250 crimes
↑ 27% above national average
Other crime 75 crimes
↑ 535% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 69 crimes
↓ 23% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 58 crimes
↑ 44% above national average
Shoplifting 52 crimes
↑ 13% above national average
other 109 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Burnhope Way 135 crimes
  2. 2 Grangefields 35 crimes
  3. 3 Shopping Area 30 crimes

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

Environment
61
Air Quality NO₂ 4.2 · PM2.5 5 · PM10 7.3 µg/m³
81
Green Space 14
Parks Ample 5
Sports Pitches Ample 6
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 6

Services

Schools
50
4 schools in area
1Outstanding3Good
  • Montalbo Nursery & Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • Green Lane Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard CastlePrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Teesdale School and Sixth FormSecondary · inspected 2025
    Good
Healthcare
38
A&E departmentsDarlington Memorial Hospital13.6 mi
University Hospital of North Durham20.5 mi
Friarage Hospital23.5 mi
Hospital waitsCounty Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks66.8%
A&E seen within 4 hrs70.1%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,162 patients per GP
2dentists2pharmacies

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
22
Full fibre (FTTP)82.9%
available across County Durham
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
42.7%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
42.7%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
97.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 171 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
57
Employment rate47%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed47%Unemployed2.6%Retired34.9%Student3.8%Other inactive11.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial37.9%Skilled & technical33.6%Routine & elementary28.5%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications18.9%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.7%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.7%Level 3 (A levels)16.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)30.3%Apprenticeship6.4%Other (incl. vocational)3.4%
Home ownership68%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
34
Council tax Durham · 2026-27
A £1,748
B £2,039
C £2,331
D £2,622
E £3,205
F £3,787
G £4,370
H £5,244
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
41
Bishop Auckland 12.2 mi
Shildon 12.5 mi
Heighington 13.9 mi
J56 A1(M) 11.5 mi
J56 A1(M) 11.5 mi
J57 A1(M) 12 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
53
Pubs & Bars Ample 10
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 17
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 5
Retail Shopping Ample 85
Takeaways Adequate 10
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £189,250 38
Semi-detached £205,000 13
Terraced £179,000 14
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced
£149k £250k £353k £453k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Startforth 44 0.8 mi away ⇄
Cotherstone 41 3.2 mi away ⇄
Staindrop 34 5.0 mi away ⇄
Cockfield 47 6.3 mi away ⇄
Mickleton (County Durham) 41 6.8 mi away ⇄
Gainford 38 7.2 mi away ⇄
Evenwood 40 8.1 mi away ⇄
Middleton-in-Teesdale 40 8.4 mi away ⇄
Hamsterley 33 9.6 mi away ⇄
West Auckland 39 9.7 mi away ⇄
Toft Hill and High Etherley 48 9.8 mi away ⇄
Melsonby 48 10 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Barnard Castle a nice place to live?

Barnard Castle has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Barnard Castle is 45/100, 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 Barnard Castle?

Barnard Castle has crime levels around the national average. Our safety score is 50/100. There were 613 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Barnard Castle?

Among the top-rated schools in Barnard Castle are Montalbo Nursery & Primary School, Green Lane Church of England Primary School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 4 rated schools in Barnard Castle in total.

What are house prices like in Barnard Castle?

The current median house price in Barnard Castle is £189,250, around 34% below the England and Wales average. By property type: semi-detached £205,000, terraced £179,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 2%. There were 38 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Barnard Castle in context

See where Barnard Castle ranks among the best places to live in County Durham

Postcode districts in Barnard Castle

DL12 40 ⇄

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