Town Pop. 642

Living in Bellingham: Liveability Score 44/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Bellingham comes out at 44/100 on the 8 categories we can score here. Furthest below the national norm is transport, at 3/100 against a town median of 21/100. Against the wider NE48 district average of 34/100, that is 10 points above.

Its environment score runs 9 points below the NE48 district's 85/100. Safety (93) sits at 80/100 or above. Healthcare (3) and lifestyle (4) all fall below 30/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: NE48 postcode district.

44
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.

Bellingham scores 44 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bellingham.
Or compare:
NE48 1AA NE48 2AA NE48 3AA NE48 4AA NE48

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
93
115.3 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 22 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 18 crimes
↑ 84% above national average
Other crime 8 crimes
↑ 525% above national average
Public order 8 crimes
↑ 92% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 5 crimes
↑ 15% above national average
other 13 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Chapel Close 14 crimes
  2. 2 Eastlands 11 crimes
  3. 3 Park/Open Space 9 crimes

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

Environment
76
Air Quality NO₂ 1.5 · PM2.5 4.4 · PM10 6.2 µg/m³
85
Green Space 54
Parks None
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
—
2 schools in area
2Good
  • Bellingham Middle School and Sports CollegeSecondary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Bellingham Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsHexham General Hospital13.3 mi
Community Paramedic Service17.1 mi
Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital27.1 mi
Hospital waitsNorthumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)9 wks
Treated within 18 weeks82.8%
A&E seen within 4 hrs91.1%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Outstanding'
GP capacity689 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
63
Full fibre (FTTP)81.6%
available across Northumberland
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
85.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
85.1%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 56 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
59
Employment rate57.8%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed57.8%Unemployed1%Retired29.3%Student3.3%Other inactive8.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial33.8%Skilled & technical43.5%Routine & elementary22.7%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications17.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.1%Level 3 (A levels)18.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)32%Apprenticeship6.6%Other (incl. vocational)3%
Home ownership61%
Among the most-deprived 38% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
30
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
3
Haydon Bridge 11.7 mi
Bardon Mill 12.3 mi
Hexham 13.4 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
4
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 3
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping Some 5
Takeaways Some 1
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Bellingham 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

Otterburn 37 6.8 mi away ⇄
Humshaugh 40 9.0 mi away ⇄
Haydon Bridge 49 12 mi away ⇄
Acomb 42 12 mi away ⇄
Redburn 42 13 mi away ⇄
Hexham 53 13 mi away ⇄
Haltwhistle 48 15 mi away ⇄
Corbridge 52 15 mi away ⇄
Stamfordham 27 16 mi away ⇄
Gilsland 41 16 mi away ⇄
Thropton 48 17 mi away ⇄
Newton Hall 41 17 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Bellingham a nice place to live?

Bellingham has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bellingham is 44/100, 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 Bellingham?

Bellingham is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 93/100. There were 74 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Bellingham?

Among the top-rated schools in Bellingham are Bellingham Middle School and Sports College and Bellingham Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Bellingham in total.

Bellingham in context

See the best places to live in Northumberland, ranked

Postcode districts in Bellingham

NE48 34 ⇄

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