Town Pop. 1,068

Living in Startforth: Liveability Score 44/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Startforth scores 44/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, lifestyle stands out most: 55/100 where the typical UK town scores 21/100. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 25/100 against a town median of 88/100.

Startforth places 2nd of 5 in the DL12 postcode district. Its lifestyle score runs 25 points above the DL12 district's 30/100. On the national picture that lands Startforth in the middle half of all the places we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the DL12 postcode district.

44
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.

Startforth scores 44 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Startforth.
Or compare:
DL12 0AA DL12 2BY DL12 8AA DL12 9AA DL12

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
25
297.8 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 135 crimes
↑ 280% above national average
Other crime 68 crimes
↑ 3085% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 33 crimes
↑ 103% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 27 crimes
↑ 272% above national average
Public order 15 crimes
↑ 115% above national average
other 40 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Burnhope Way 135 crimes
  2. 2 Grangefields 35 crimes
  3. 3 Shopping Area 30 crimes

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

Environment
64
Air Quality NO₂ 2.8 · PM2.5 4.8 · PM10 7.4 µg/m³
82
Green Space 21
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Some 1
Allotments None
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
42
2 schools in area · 4 within 4km
1Outstanding1Good
  • Montalbo Nursery & Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard CastlePrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

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

Healthcare
32
A&E departmentsDarlington Memorial Hospital14.1 mi
University Hospital of North Durham21.6 mi
Friarage Hospital23.6 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 surgeryBarnard Castle Surgery0.7 mi
GP capacity1,162 patients per GP
1dentist0pharmacies

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
74
Full fibre (FTTP)82.9%
available across County Durham
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
92%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
92%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 36 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
64
Employment rate46.3%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed46.3%Unemployed2.9%Retired29.7%Student4.3%Other inactive16.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial40.2%Skilled & technical32.9%Routine & elementary26.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications16%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.6%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.5%Level 3 (A levels)16.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)32.7%Apprenticeship6.8%Other (incl. vocational)4.1%
Home ownership68.5%
Among the least-deprived 38% 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 C
Water Northumbrian Water
Average bill regional £435/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
40
Bishop Auckland 13 mi
Shildon 13.3 mi
Heighington 14.6 mi
J56 A1(M) 11.8 mi
J56 A1(M) 11.9 mi
J53 A1(M) 12.4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
55
Pubs & Bars None
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £308,000 15
Detached £310,000 10
5-year monthly trend
All Detached
£222k £248k £276k £302k 2022 2023 2024 2025

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

Nearby places

Barnard Castle 45 0.8 mi away ⇄
Cotherstone 41 3.0 mi away ⇄
Staindrop 34 5.7 mi away ⇄
Mickleton (County Durham) 41 6.6 mi away ⇄
Cockfield 47 7.0 mi away ⇄
Gainford 38 7.9 mi away ⇄
Middleton-in-Teesdale 40 8.3 mi away ⇄
Evenwood 40 8.9 mi away ⇄
Hamsterley 33 10 mi away ⇄
West Auckland 39 10 mi away ⇄
Toft Hill and High Etherley 48 11 mi away ⇄
Melsonby 48 11 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Startforth a nice place to live?

Startforth has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Startforth is 44/100, 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 Startforth?

Crime levels in Startforth are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 25/100. There were 318 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Startforth?

Among the top-rated schools in Startforth are Montalbo Nursery & Primary School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Startforth in total.

What are house prices like in Startforth?

The current median house price in Startforth is £308,000, around 8% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £310,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 28%.

Startforth in context

See the best places to live in County Durham, ranked

Postcode districts in Startforth

DL12 40 ⇄

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