Town Pop. 144,119

Living in Middlesbrough: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Middlesbrough scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Healthcare is where Middlesbrough most outperforms the national norm: 83/100 against a median of 18/100 across UK towns. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 13/100 against a town median of 88/100.

The TS1 district averages 61/100, putting Middlesbrough 5 points below its own postcode area. Its healthcare score runs 11 points below the TS1 district's 94/100. Broadband (87) also clears 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: TS1 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.

Middlesbrough scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Middlesbrough.
Or compare:
TS1 1AA TS1 2AA TS1 3AA TS1 4AA TS1 5AE TS1 9AS TS1 TS17 TS2 TS3

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
13
196.3 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 8,852 crimes
↑ 84% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 5,526 crimes
↑ 152% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 3,206 crimes
↑ 226% above national average
Shoplifting 2,468 crimes
↑ 119% above national average
Public order 1,978 crimes
↑ 111% above national average
other 6,262 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Hospital 870 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 811 crimes
  3. 3 Petrol Station 596 crimes

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

Environment
60
Air Quality NO₂ 10.5 · PM2.5 5.9 · PM10 9.7 µg/m³
73
Green Space 29
Parks Ample 36
Sports Pitches Ample 74
Allotments Ample 6
Golf Courses Ample 3
Tennis Courts Ample 10
Bowling Greens Ample 11
Playgrounds Ample 38

Services

Schools
76
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 73 in area
3Outstanding56Good3Requires Improvement2Inadequate9Ungraded
  • Linthorpe Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Outstanding
  • Nunthorpe Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • Priory Woods SchoolSpecial · inspected 2024
    Outstanding
  • Abingdon Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Acklam Grange SchoolSecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Acklam Whin Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Archibald Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Archway AcademyAlternative provision · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Ayresome Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Beech Grove Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

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

Healthcare
83
A&E departmentsThe James Cook University Hospitalin area
Guisborough Priory Hospital MIU4 mi
Darlington Memorial Hospital11.6 mi
Hospital waitsSouth Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust0.6 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks65.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs77.8%
18 GP surgeries in area 21 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity1,892 patients per GP
16dentists27pharmacies

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
87
Full fibre (FTTP)61.7%
available across Middlesbrough
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
97%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
97%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.8%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 3,538 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
28
Employment rate49.5%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed49.5%Unemployed4.9%Retired21.3%Student6.5%Other inactive17.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial28.7%Skilled & technical31.6%Routine & elementary39.7%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications24.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.6%Level 3 (A levels)17.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)25.5%Apprenticeship6.4%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%
Home ownership55.9%
Among the most-deprived 29% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
39
Council tax Middlesbrough · 2026-27
A £1,699
B £1,983
C £2,266
D £2,549
E £3,115
F £3,682
G £4,248
H £5,098
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
56
James Cook 0.5 mi
Marton 1.2 mi
Middlesbrough 1.7 mi
J60 A1(M) 13.6 mi
J60 A1(M) 13.6 mi
J59 A1(M) 13.9 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
54
Pubs & Bars Ample 65
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 86
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 81
Retail Shopping Ample 373
Takeaways Ample 74
Fitness Ample 14

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £155,000 766
Detached £250,000 154
Semi-detached £164,000 363
Terraced £95,000 219
Flat / Maisonette £80,000 30
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£63k £132k £203k £273k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Eston 44 2.4 mi away ⇄
Stainton (Middlesbrough) 42 3.1 mi away ⇄
Thornaby-on-Tees 55 3.4 mi away ⇄
Grangetown 31 4.0 mi away ⇄
Billingham 54 4.1 mi away ⇄
Lazenby 0 4.4 mi away ⇄
Stockton-on-Tees 57 4.7 mi away ⇄
Ingleby Barwick 60 5.0 mi away ⇄
Seamer (Hambleton) 34 5.1 mi away ⇄
Hilton (Stockton-on-Tees) 40 5.2 mi away ⇄
Kirkleatham 41 5.5 mi away ⇄
Great Ayton 45 5.7 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Middlesbrough a nice place to live?

Middlesbrough is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Middlesbrough 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 Middlesbrough?

Crime levels in Middlesbrough are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 13/100. There were 28,292 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Middlesbrough?

Among the top-rated schools in Middlesbrough are Linthorpe Community Primary School, Nunthorpe Primary Academy and Priory Woods School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 73 rated schools in Middlesbrough in total.

What are house prices like in Middlesbrough?

The current median house price in Middlesbrough is £155,000, around 46% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £250,000, semi-detached £164,000, terraced £95,000, flat £80,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 6%. There were 766 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Middlesbrough in context

See where Middlesbrough ranks among the best places to live in North Yorkshire

Postcode districts in Middlesbrough

TS1 61 ⇄
TS17 54 ⇄
TS2 53 ⇄
TS3 57 ⇄
TS4 59 ⇄
TS5 59 ⇄
TS6 43 ⇄
TS7 46 ⇄
TS8 43 ⇄

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