Town Pop. 946

Living in Bishop Middleham: Liveability Score 41/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Bishop Middleham is 41/100, built from 9 categories. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 26/100 against a town median of 60/100. That makes it the 5th highest-scoring of the 6 places in the DL17 postcode district.

The DL17 district averages 36/100, putting Bishop Middleham 5 points above its own postcode area. That is 9 points below the national benchmark of 50, the middle half of all UK towns and villages. Safety (94) sits at 80/100 or above. For the surrounding area, see DL17 postcode district.

41
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.

Bishop Middleham scores 41 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bishop Middleham.
Or compare:
DL17 0AA DL17 8AA DL17 9AA DL17

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
94
38.1 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 14 crimes
↓ 56% below national average
Other crime 5 crimes
↑ 165% above national average
Vehicle crime 4 crimes
↓ 12% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 4 crimes
↓ 38% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 3 crimes
↓ 79% below national average
other 6 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Front Street 8 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 7 crimes
  3. 3 Town End Farm 6 crimes

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

Environment
57
Air Quality NO₂ 5.626 · PM2.5 5.387 · PM10 10.209 µg/m³
77
Green Space 9
Parks None
Sports Pitches Adequate 2
Allotments None
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
34
1 school in area · 11 within 4km
1Outstanding
  • St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Outstanding

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

Healthcare
7
A&E departmentsUniversity Hospital of North Durham8.5 mi
Darlington Memorial Hospital10.3 mi
The James Cook University Hospital13.7 mi
Hospital waitsSouth Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust2 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks65.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs77.8%
Nearest GP surgerySkerne Medical Group2.2 mi
GP capacity1,853 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

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
26
Full fibre (FTTP)82.9%
available across County Durham
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
51.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
51.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.1%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 30 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
58
Employment rate57.1%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed57.1%Unemployed1.1%Retired28.7%Student4.2%Other inactive8.8%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial42.3%Skilled & technical33.2%Routine & elementary24.5%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.9%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)6.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.3%Level 3 (A levels)18.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)36%Apprenticeship7.7%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership76.6%
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
28
Newton Aycliffe 6 mi
Heighington 6.7 mi
Shildon 6.9 mi
J60 A1(M) 1.7 mi
J60 A1(M) 2.3 mi
J61 A1(M) 3.6 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
13
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Bishop Middleham 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

Cornforth 46 2.0 mi away ⇄
Fishburn 39 2.1 mi away ⇄
Sedgefield 49 2.2 mi away ⇄
Ferryhill 42 2.5 mi away ⇄
Trimdon 38 2.8 mi away ⇄
Coxhoe 46 2.8 mi away ⇄
Kelloe 38 3.0 mi away ⇄
Chilton (County Durham) 36 3.0 mi away ⇄
Trimdon Grange 31 3.6 mi away ⇄
Bowburn 41 4.2 mi away ⇄
Kirk Merrington 51 4.3 mi away ⇄
Trimdon Colliery 33 4.3 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Bishop Middleham a nice place to live?

Bishop Middleham has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bishop Middleham is 41/100, 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 Bishop Middleham?

Bishop Middleham is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 94/100. There were 36 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Bishop Middleham?

Among the top-rated schools in Bishop Middleham is St Michael's Church of England Primary School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Bishop Middleham in total.

Bishop Middleham in context

See the best places to live in County Durham, ranked

Postcode districts in Bishop Middleham

DL17 36 ⇄

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