Living in South Shields: Liveability Score 63/100
Last updated 7 August 2026
Our overall score for South Shields is 63/100, built from 9 categories. Transport is where South Shields most outperforms the national norm: 84/100 against a median of 21/100 across UK towns. The biggest shortfall against other towns is safety: 23/100 versus a median of 88/100.
Among the 3 scored places sharing the NE32 postcode district, South Shields ranks 2nd. That sits 13 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 5% of the towns and villages we score. Also scoring 80 or better: broadband (83). For the surrounding area, see NE32 postcode district.
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.
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.
South Shields scores 63 but individual postcodes tell the full story
See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with South Shields.
Score breakdown
Safety & Environment
Services
Economy & Bills
Transport
Lifestyle
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House Prices
Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only
| Type | Median price | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| All dwellings | £155,000 | 341 |
| Detached | £336,500 | 15 |
| Semi-detached | £197,000 | 115 |
| Terraced | £141,000 | 140 |
| Flat / Maisonette | £92,000 | 71 |
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)
Nearby places
Frequently asked questions
Is South Shields a nice place to live?
South Shields is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for South Shields is 63/100, 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 South Shields?
Crime levels in South Shields are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 23/100. There were 10,142 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.
What are the best schools in South Shields?
Among the top-rated schools in South Shields are Epinay Business and Enterprise School, Marine Park Primary School and St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 36 rated schools in South Shields in total.
What are house prices like in South Shields?
The current median house price in South Shields is £155,000, around 46% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £336,500, semi-detached £197,000, terraced £141,000, flat £92,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 14%. There were 341 sales recorded in the past 12 months.
South Shields in context
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