Town Pop. 6,772

Living in Fence Houses: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Fence Houses scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Transport is where Fence Houses most outperforms the national norm: 60/100 against a median of 21/100 across UK towns. Furthest below the national norm is economic health, at 29/100 against a town median of 67/100.

That makes it the 3rd highest-scoring of the 6 places in the DH4 postcode district. Also scoring 80 or better: broadband (91). On the national picture that lands Fence Houses in the top quarter of all the places we score. For the surrounding area, see DH4 postcode district.

56
OUT OF 100
Average
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.

Fence Houses scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Fence Houses.
Or compare:
DH4 4AB DH4 5AA DH4 6AA DH4 7AA DH4 9BR DH4

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
68
86.4 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 242 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 110 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Criminal damage and arson 55 crimes
↑ 19% above national average
Vehicle crime 38 crimes
↑ 17% above national average
Burglary 31 crimes
↑ 31% above national average
other 109 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Melbeck Court 45 crimes
  2. 2 Sydney Street 32 crimes
  3. 3 Front Street 25 crimes

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

Environment
58
Air Quality NO₂ 7.2 · PM2.5 5.7 · PM10 10.3 µg/m³
75
Green Space 19
Parks Ample 5
Sports Pitches Adequate 4
Allotments Ample 9
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
44
5 schools in area · 19 within 4km
4Good1Ungraded
  • Bournmoor Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Burnside Academy InspiresPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • KepierSecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Woodlea Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Dubmire PrimaryPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

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

Healthcare
50
A&E departmentsUniversity Hospital of North Durham4.8 mi
Sunderland Primary care Trust5.6 mi
Queen Elizabeth Hospital6.6 mi
Hospital waitsSouth Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust1.1 mi
Routine referral (median)8 wks
Treated within 18 weeks76.6%
A&E seen within 4 hrs77.7%
Nearest GP surgeryKepier Medical Practice1.1 mi
GP capacity1,550 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
91
Full fibre (FTTP)71.6%
available across Sunderland
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
96.9%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
96.9%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 152 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
29
Employment rate55.9%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed55.9%Unemployed3.1%Retired22.7%Student4.2%Other inactive14.1%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial32.7%Skilled & technical35%Routine & elementary32.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications20.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.3%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.8%Level 3 (A levels)18%Level 4+ (degree & above)25.8%Apprenticeship7.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership65.5%
Among the most-deprived 33% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
65
Council tax Sunderland · 2026-27
A £1,465
B £1,709
C £1,953
D £2,197
E £2,685
F £3,173
G £3,662
H £4,394
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
60
Chester-le-Street 3.1 mi
South Hylton 4.7 mi
Durham 5.5 mi
J63 A1(M) 2.7 mi
J63 A1(M) 3.3 mi
J62 A1(M) 3.4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
28
Pubs & Bars None
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 3
Retail Shopping Some 2
Takeaways Some 2
Fitness None

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £147,475 34
Terraced £105,000 18
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced
£66k £136k £208k £278k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Bournmoor 51 1.0 mi away ⇄
Houghton-le-Spring 53 1.1 mi away ⇄
Great Lumley 60 1.6 mi away ⇄
Shiney Row and Penshaw 61 1.6 mi away ⇄
East Rainton 57 1.7 mi away ⇄
West Rainton 41 2.1 mi away ⇄
Penshaw 57 2.3 mi away ⇄
Hetton-le-Hole 50 2.5 mi away ⇄
Chester-le-Street 62 3.3 mi away ⇄
Easington Lane 48 3.6 mi away ⇄
High Pittington 50 3.8 mi away ⇄
Washington 62 4.0 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Fence Houses a nice place to live?

Fence Houses is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Fence Houses is 56/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Fence Houses?

Fence Houses has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 68/100. There were 585 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Fence Houses?

Among the top-rated schools in Fence Houses are Bournmoor Primary School, Burnside Academy Inspires and Kepier, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 5 rated schools in Fence Houses in total.

What are house prices like in Fence Houses?

The current median house price in Fence Houses is £147,475, around 48% below the England and Wales average. By property type: terraced £105,000. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 9%. There were 34 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Fence Houses in context

See where Fence Houses ranks among the best places to live in Tyne and Wear

Postcode districts in Fence Houses

DH4 53 ⇄

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