Town Pop. 329

Living in Dalston: Liveability Score 49/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Dalston comes out at 49/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Broadband is where Dalston most outperforms the national norm: 99/100 against a median of 60/100 across UK towns. That is the highest score of the 3 places in the CA5 postcode district.

The CA5 district averages 38/100, putting Dalston 11 points above its own postcode area. Its broadband score runs 81 points above the CA5 district's 18/100. Safety (95) and economic health (89) sit at 80/100 or above. For the surrounding area, see CA5 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.

Dalston scores 49 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Dalston.
Or compare:
CA5 6AA CA5 7AA CA5

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
95
130.7 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
↑ 101% above national average
Public order 5 crimes
↑ 134% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 5 crimes
↑ 124% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 3 crimes
↓ 40% below national average
Possession of weapons 3 crimes
↑ 911% above national average
other 5 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Parking Area 10 crimes
  2. 2 Church Lane 6 crimes
  3. 3 Rose Causeway 4 crimes

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

Environment
63
Air Quality NO₂ 2.814 · PM2.5 4.251 · PM10 6.83 µg/m³
84
Green Space 15
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
17
2 schools in area · 4 within 4km
2Good
  • Caldew SchoolSecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • St Michael's CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

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

Healthcare
16
A&E departmentsCumberland Infirmary3.3 mi
Hexham General Hospital36 mi
Community Paramedic Service52.6 mi
Hospital waitsNorth Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust0.2 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks64.3%
A&E seen within 4 hrs62.6%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,092 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
99
Full fibre (FTTP)73.1%
available across Cumberland
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
92.7%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
92.7%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.5%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 49 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
89
Employment rate56.1%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed56.1%Unemployed0.9%Retired33.8%Student3.5%Other inactive5.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.6%Skilled & technical39.3%Routine & elementary16.1%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications12.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.5%Level 3 (A levels)14.4%Level 4+ (degree & above)42.7%Apprenticeship5.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership77.8%
Among the least-deprived 29% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
42
Council tax Cumberland · 2026-27
A £1,674
B £1,953
C £2,232
D £2,511
E £3,069
F £3,627
G £4,185
H £5,022
Energy North West England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water United Utilities
Average bill regional £456/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
21
Dalston 0.2 mi
Carlisle 3.8 mi
Wetheral 6.7 mi
J42 M6 4.3 mi
J42 M6 4.5 mi
J43 M6 5.2 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
9
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 2
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 2
Retail Shopping Adequate 6
Takeaways Some 1
Fitness None

Places like Dalston Pro

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £250,000 10
5-year monthly trend
All
£180k £220k £261k £301k 2022 2023 2024 2025

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

Nearby places

Blackwell (Carlisle) 50 2.5 mi away ⇄
Thursby 43 2.6 mi away ⇄
Carlisle 58 3.9 mi away ⇄
Cumwhinton 46 5.3 mi away ⇄
Scotby 56 5.4 mi away ⇄
Mellguards 0 5.6 mi away ⇄
Cargo 52 5.6 mi away ⇄
Houghton (Carlisle) 60 5.9 mi away ⇄
Burgh by Sands 32 6.0 mi away ⇄
Wetheral 44 6.5 mi away ⇄
Harker 30 6.8 mi away ⇄
Wigton 46 7.1 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Dalston a nice place to live?

Dalston has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Dalston 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 Dalston?

Dalston is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 95/100. There were 43 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Dalston?

Among the top-rated schools in Dalston are Caldew School and St Michael's CofE Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Dalston in total.

What are house prices like in Dalston?

The current median house price in Dalston is £250,000, around 12% below the England and Wales average. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 35%.

Dalston in context

See the best places to live in Cumbria, ranked

Postcode districts in Dalston

CA5 38 ⇄

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