Town Pop. 1,736

Living in Rothbury: Liveability Score 41/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Rothbury comes out at 41/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. The biggest shortfall against other towns is transport: 4/100 versus a median of 21/100. Rothbury places 3rd of 10 in the NE65 postcode district.

The NE65 district averages 36/100, putting Rothbury 5 points above its own postcode area. Its environment score runs 10 points above the NE65 district's 67/100. That is 9 points below the national benchmark of 50, the middle half of all UK towns and villages. For the surrounding area, see NE65 postcode district.

41
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.

Rothbury scores 41 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Rothbury.
Or compare:
NE65 0AA NE65 7AA NE65 8AA NE65 9AA NE65

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
90
134.8 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 96 crimes
↑ 66% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 35 crimes
↑ 33% above national average
Public order 31 crimes
↑ 175% above national average
Burglary 20 crimes
↑ 229% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 15 crimes
↑ 26% above national average
other 37 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Green Lane 42 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 26 crimes
  3. 3 Ritton Bank 11 crimes

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

Environment
77
Air Quality NO₂ 1.8 · PM2.5 4.4 · PM10 6.8 µg/m³
84
Green Space 60
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments Adequate 3
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 3

Services

Schools
6
3 schools in area
2Good1Ungraded
  • Dr Thomlinson Church of England Middle SchoolSecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Thropton Village First SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Rothbury First SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

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

Healthcare
14
A&E departmentsCommunity Paramedic Servicein area
Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital20.5 mi
Hexham General Hospital24.3 mi
Hospital waitsNorthumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust0.2 mi
Routine referral (median)9 wks
Treated within 18 weeks82.8%
A&E seen within 4 hrs91.1%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,136 patients per GP
1dentist1pharmacy

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
72
Full fibre (FTTP)81.6%
available across Northumberland
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
83.4%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
83.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 109 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
63
Employment rate48.3%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed48.3%Unemployed2.6%Retired39%Student2%Other inactive8.2%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial40.8%Skilled & technical37.4%Routine & elementary21.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications13.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.3%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)12.7%Level 3 (A levels)16.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)39.1%Apprenticeship7.2%Other (incl. vocational)2.8%
Home ownership66.6%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
35
Council tax Northumberland · 2026-27
A £1,731
B £2,020
C £2,308
D £2,597
E £3,174
F £3,751
G £4,328
H £5,194
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
4
Acklington 10.2 mi
Alnmouth 12.3 mi
Widdrington 12.6 mi
J3 A194(M) 29.7 mi
J2 A194(M) 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
7
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 7
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 2
Retail Shopping Ample 22
Takeaways Some 2
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £245,000 19
5-year monthly trend
All
£223k £258k £294k £329k 2022 2023 2024 2025

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

Nearby places

Thropton 48 1.8 mi away ⇄
Longframlington 39 4.4 mi away ⇄
Whittingham 34 6.4 mi away ⇄
Swarland 36 6.7 mi away ⇄
Longhorsley 29 7.2 mi away ⇄
Felton (Northumberland) 34 7.9 mi away ⇄
West Thirston 0 8.0 mi away ⇄
Shilbottle 37 9.7 mi away ⇄
Alnwick 50 11 mi away ⇄
Acklington 43 11 mi away ⇄
South Broomhill 0 11 mi away ⇄
Fair Moor 60 12 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Rothbury a nice place to live?

Rothbury has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Rothbury is 41/100, 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 Rothbury?

Rothbury is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 90/100. There were 234 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Rothbury?

Among the top-rated schools in Rothbury are Dr Thomlinson Church of England Middle School and Thropton Village First School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 3 rated schools in Rothbury in total.

What are house prices like in Rothbury?

The current median house price in Rothbury is £245,000, around 14% below the England and Wales average. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 7%.

Rothbury in context

See the best places to live in Northumberland, ranked

Postcode districts in Rothbury

NE65 36 ⇄

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