Town Pop. 678

Living in Belford: Liveability Score 39/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Belford is 39/100, built from 9 categories. Measured against other towns, broadband stands out most: 78/100 where the typical UK town scores 60/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is schools: 4/100 versus a median of 23/100.

On broadband specifically, Belford sits 41 points above the NE70 district figure of 37/100. That sits 11 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the middle half of the towns and villages we score. Safety (91) sits at 80/100 or above. Wider context for the surrounding area: NE70 postcode district.

39
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.

Belford scores 39 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Belford.
Or compare:
NE70 7AB NE70

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
125.4 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 29 crimes
↑ 29% above national average
Other theft 10 crimes
↑ 137% above national average
Public order 10 crimes
↑ 126% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 8 crimes
↑ 74% above national average
Other crime 8 crimes
↑ 490% above national average
other 20 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Parking Area 9 crimes
  2. 2 Nursery Lane 7 crimes
  3. 3 The Meadows 6 crimes

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

Environment
66
Air Quality NO₂ 1.9 · PM2.5 4.4 · PM10 8.5 µg/m³
83
Green Space 25
Parks None
Sports Pitches Adequate 2
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
4
1 school in area
1Good
  • Belford Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
Healthcare
9
A&E departmentsCommunity Paramedic Service19.9 mi
Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital37 mi
Royal Victoria Infirmary42.9 mi
Hospital waitsThe Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust0 mi
Routine referral (median)9 wks
Treated within 18 weeks72.5%
A&E seen within 4 hrs78.5%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity969 patients per GP
0dentists1pharmacy

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
78
Full fibre (FTTP)81.6%
available across Northumberland
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
92%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
92%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 52 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
53
Employment rate48.5%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed48.5%Unemployed3%Retired36.4%Student1.7%Other inactive10.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial33.3%Skilled & technical35.8%Routine & elementary30.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications19%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.2%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14%Level 3 (A levels)16.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)29%Apprenticeship8.4%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%
Home ownership60%
Around the England average for deprivation
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
4
Chathill 6.3 mi
Berwick-upon-Tweed 14.2 mi
Alnmouth 16 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
5
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes Some 2
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping Adequate 6
Takeaways Some 1
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Belford in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Bamburgh 39 4.4 mi away ⇄
Seahouses and North Sunderland 41 6.7 mi away ⇄
Lowick 31 6.9 mi away ⇄
Haggerston 0 7.5 mi away ⇄
Brunton 0 7.6 mi away ⇄
Wooler 44 8.0 mi away ⇄
Beadnell 42 8.2 mi away ⇄
Embleton 41 10 mi away ⇄
Whittingham 34 14 mi away ⇄
Berwick-upon-Tweed 52 14 mi away ⇄
Loanend 0 14 mi away ⇄
Alnwick 50 14 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Belford a nice place to live?

Belford has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Belford is 39/100, 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 Belford?

Belford is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 85 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Belford?

Among the top-rated schools in Belford is Belford Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Belford in total.

Belford in context

See the best places to live in Northumberland, ranked

Postcode districts in Belford

NE70 38 ⇄

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