Town Pop. 562

Living in Hobson: Liveability Score 52/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Hobson scores 52/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, transport stands out most: 55/100 where the typical UK town scores 21/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 14/100 versus a median of 60/100.

Among the 5 scored places sharing the NE16 postcode district, Hobson ranks 4th. Its transport score runs 13 points below the NE16 district's 68/100. Safety (92) also clears 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: NE16 postcode district.

52
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.

Hobson scores 52 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Hobson.
Or compare:
NE16 3AA NE16 4AB NE16 5AA NE16 6AA NE16 9AF NE16

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
92
323.8 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Anti-social behaviour 58 crimes
↑ 579% above national average
Violence and sexual offences 55 crimes
↑ 194% above national average
Shoplifting 21 crimes
↑ 379% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 13 crimes
↑ 240% above national average
Other theft 9 crimes
↑ 158% above national average
other 26 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Supermarket 24 crimes
  2. 2 Front Street 16 crimes
  3. 3 Heather Lea 10 crimes

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

Environment
78
Air Quality NO₂ 5.642 · PM2.5 5.413 · PM10 8.423 µg/m³
78
Green Space 77
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments None
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
32
1 school in area · 13 within 4km
1Good
  • Burnopfield Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good

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

Healthcare
36
A&E departmentsQueen Elizabeth Hospital6.4 mi
Royal Victoria Infirmary6.9 mi
University Hospital of North Durham9 mi
Hospital waitsCounty Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust0.7 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks66.8%
A&E seen within 4 hrs70.1%
Nearest GP surgeryCedars Medical Group0.7 mi
GP capacity1,945 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
14
Full fibre (FTTP)82.9%
available across County Durham
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
17.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
17.1%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
89.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 17 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
66
Employment rate58.3%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed58.3%Unemployed2.4%Retired28.9%Student2.7%Other inactive7.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial43.9%Skilled & technical32%Routine & elementary24%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13%Level 3 (A levels)18.8%Level 4+ (degree & above)34.5%Apprenticeship7.2%Other (incl. vocational)3.2%
Home ownership81.1%
Among the least-deprived 29% of areas in England
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
55
Blaydon 4.8 mi
MetroCentre 5 mi
Dunston 5.1 mi
J65 A1(M) 6.6 mi
J63 A1(M) 6.8 mi
J65 A1(M) 6.9 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
30
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Adequate 9
Takeaways None
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Hobson 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

Burnopfield 53 0.6 mi away ⇄
Tantobie 48 0.8 mi away ⇄
Tanfield Lea 51 1.4 mi away ⇄
Dipton 50 1.5 mi away ⇄
Rowlands Gill 53 1.8 mi away ⇄
Hamsterley Mill 52 2.0 mi away ⇄
Annfield Plain 47 2.6 mi away ⇄
Stanley (County Durham) 49 2.6 mi away ⇄
Sunniside 42 3.0 mi away ⇄
Beamish 42 3.1 mi away ⇄
High Spen 48 3.1 mi away ⇄
Medomsley 50 3.4 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Hobson a nice place to live?

Hobson is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Hobson is 52/100, 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 Hobson?

Hobson is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 92/100. There were 182 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Hobson?

Among the top-rated schools in Hobson is Burnopfield Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Hobson in total.

Hobson in context

See the best places to live in County Durham, ranked

Postcode districts in Hobson

NE16 53 ⇄

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