Town Pop. 722

Living in Gainford: Liveability Score 38/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Gainford comes out at 38/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. The biggest shortfall against other towns is schools: 6/100 versus a median of 23/100. Among the 8 scored places sharing the DL2 postcode district, Gainford ranks 5th.

On safety specifically, Gainford sits 33 points above the DL2 district figure of 58/100. That sits 12 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Also scoring 80 or better: safety (91). For the surrounding area, see DL2 postcode district.

38
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.

Gainford scores 38 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Gainford.
Or compare:
DL2 1AA DL2 2AA DL2 3AA DL2

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
135.7 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Criminal damage and arson 26 crimes
↑ 429% above national average
Violence and sexual offences 25 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 12 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Burglary 12 crimes
↑ 374% above national average
Vehicle crime 11 crimes
↑ 217% above national average
other 12 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Front Street 9 crimes
  2. 2 Moor Lane 8 crimes
  3. 3 Blind Loaning 6 crimes

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

Environment
58
Air Quality NO₂ 3.161 · PM2.5 5.075 · PM10 9.238 µg/m³
80
Green Space 7
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
6
1 school in area · 3 within 4km
1Ungraded
  • Gainford Church of England Primary School and PreschoolPrimary
    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
13
A&E departmentsDarlington Memorial Hospital6.6 mi
University Hospital of North Durham17.4 mi
Friarage Hospital18.5 mi
Hospital waitsCounty Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks66.8%
A&E seen within 4 hrs70.1%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,908 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
53
Full fibre (FTTP)82.9%
available across County Durham
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
79.6%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
79.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 35 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
63
Employment rate51.6%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed51.6%Unemployed2.2%Retired35.4%Student4.3%Other inactive6.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.5%Skilled & technical34.7%Routine & elementary20.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.5%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)7.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.8%Level 3 (A levels)15.8%Level 4+ (degree & above)38.6%Apprenticeship5.9%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership73.1%
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
13
Shildon 6.7 mi
Heighington 7.1 mi
North Road 7.4 mi
J57 A1(M) 5.6 mi
J58 A1(M) 5.6 mi
J58 A1(M) 5.8 mi

Lifestyle

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

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Gainford 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

Staindrop 34 3.5 mi away ⇄
Merrybent 38 4.7 mi away ⇄
Evenwood 40 5.1 mi away ⇄
Cockfield 47 5.4 mi away ⇄
Melsonby 48 5.6 mi away ⇄
Heighington 43 5.7 mi away ⇄
West Auckland 39 5.8 mi away ⇄
Barton (Richmondshire) 38 6.2 mi away ⇄
Shildon 45 6.8 mi away ⇄
School Aycliffe 38 6.8 mi away ⇄
Toft Hill and High Etherley 48 7.1 mi away ⇄
Barnard Castle 45 7.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Gainford a nice place to live?

Gainford has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Gainford is 38/100, 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 Gainford?

Gainford is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 98 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

Gainford in context

See the best places to live in County Durham, ranked

Postcode districts in Gainford

DL2 39 ⇄

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