Bowburn’s story
No listed buildings inside Bowburn’s built-up area
12% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
BowburnCounty Durham
A town of 4,843 in County Durham, North East. 15% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Francis Hannaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
4,843
Census 2021 · County Durham council
Median home
£163K
336 sales in 3 years
Median age
38.3
16% are 65+ · County Durham 21%
Degree level
34%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
15%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B
#10 of 52 in County Durham
Is Bowburn a good place to live?
Bowburn grades B overall against UK towns: better than 59% of UK towns, and #10 of 52 in County Durham. Its strongest subject is schools (A): primary results beat 86% of towns in England. Its weakest is safety (C−): 37.7 violent and sexual offences and 18.8 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Among UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people, it has less crime per resident than 11%. The median home sold for £162,875 in the last three years, 3.8 times what households in the County Durham council area earn in a year.
What makes Bowburn stand out
The 3 things Bowburn does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
15% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
41% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Rent against income, UK towns
Renting
£650 a month
Average private rent, 18% of what households in the area earn: less than in 93% of UK towns
ONS private rents, County Durham council area.
How Bowburn grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Bowburn is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 86% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyC−Open →HealthLife expectancy 79.2 for men, 81.5 for womenC−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →Jobs & income2.5% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsC+Open →WalkabilityB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors71% live within 400 m of a park; 1.5 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life1.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 95% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Durham Castle and 5 more in and around Bowburn
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Bowburn. Best known first.
CastleDurham Castle4.5 km outside town, to the northwest
CathedralDurham Cathedral4.3 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumOriental Museum3.8 km outside town, to the northwest · 19K visitors a year
GardenDurham University Botanic Garden3.3 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumDurham Museum4.2 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumThe Story3.8 km outside town, to the northwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Durham Castle: Carla Brain, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Durham Cathedral: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Oriental Museum: Wereon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Durham University Botanic Garden: Ken Walton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Durham Museum: User:Jungpionier (assumed), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Bowburn.
History
Bowburn has fewer old homes than County Durham’s towns or England’s towns: 12% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Conservation areas cover 3% of Bowburn’s land, about level with both County Durham’s towns (0%) and England’s towns (7%). Historic England’s list has no building inside the town’s built-up area.
0listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
12%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
0
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
SchoolsA
Exam results at Bowburn’s schools top 90% of towns in England
Its one school is below. At the 5 primary schools within 3 km, 69% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowburn Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 438 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Bowburn has more crime per resident than 89% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 22.6 reports per 1,000, higher than both County Durham’s towns (16) and England’s towns (7.8). Police recorded 446 crimes inside Bowburn’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 145 reports of anti-social behaviour. 43% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences.
37.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 11% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual194
Damage & arson76
Public order46
Shoplifting44
Other theft26
Other crime20
Burglary16
Drugs9
Anti-social145
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
37.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
18.8
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
22.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
446
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
Health
People in Bowburn live shorter lives than in 74% of UK towns
At the census, just over a fifth of people here had a disability, below County Durham’s towns (22%) but above England’s towns (17%). 6.4% of residents report bad or very bad health. 2 GP practices serve the town; 79% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. Asked at the census, 80% of residents of Bowburn said they were in good or very good health.
80%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 80%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Bowburn | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 80% | 77% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 6.4% | 7.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 21% | 22% | 17% |
79.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
81.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Because the census answers ignore age, a younger population lifts them; that is why the Health Grade is built on age-adjusted measures like life expectancy and early deaths.
HousingCost of living grade A−
Bowburn earns an A− for cost of living grade
17% rent privately, near County Durham’s towns (18%) and lower than England’s towns (21%). Private rents average £650 a month across the County Durham council area. Behind the median of £162,875: 336 standard sales inside Bowburn’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£163Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Bowburn£163K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £257,995 | 118 |
| Semi-detached | £155,000 | 127 |
| Terraced | £99,000 | 91 |
17%
rent privately · England 21%
£650
average private rent a month, County Durham council area
£2,543
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Work tends to be further away for Bowburn: 23% commute under 5 km, below County Durham’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 28% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car took 83% of commuters, higher than both County Durham’s towns (80%) and England’s towns (70%). Work in town: 6% of resident commuters. A household here earns £47K a year before tax, on average.
15%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
On foot7%
Bus6%
Bicycle1%
23%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
28%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£47K
mean household income, before tax
2.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B−
Walkability: more walkable than 54% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Bowburn has fewer older residents than County Durham’s towns or England’s towns: 16% are 65 or over
One in ten residents are 15 to 24, lower than both County Durham’s towns (12%) and England’s towns (12%). At 38.3, the median resident of Bowburn sits in the middle of the age range. Graduates make up 34% of adults.
38.3median age
BowburnCounty DurhamEngland
Ages · share of residents
16%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level34%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Bowburn | County Durham | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 32% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 16% | 21% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.4% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 34% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · County Durham and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bowburn
15pages on Bowburn
The big questions
SafetyC−37.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £163K · rent £650 a monthHousing76 sold in 12 months · busiest street Wheatley CloseSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthC−Life expectancy 79.2 (men), 81.5 (women)Work & commuteC+43% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Bowburn’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
High ShincliffeCoxhoeKelloeCornforthSherburnThornleyDurhamBowburn
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowburn | 4,843 | — | B | A− | C− | C− |
| High Shincliffe | 1,045 | 1.2 | — | C | A+ | C+ |
| Coxhoe | 4,542 | 1.8 | B | B+ | C | C− |
| Kelloe | 1,434 | 2.4 | — | A | D | D |
| Cornforth | 2,424 | 2.6 | — | A− | D | D− |
| Sherburn | 2,796 | 2.6 | B− | A− | C− | C− |
| Thornley | 2,543 | 3.3 | C− | A− | D | D− |
| Durham | 50,502 | 3.4 | B+ | B | D | C |
High Shincliffe, Kelloe and Cornforth have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Bowburn
Are schools in Bowburn good?
Primary results beat 86% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by County Durham council.
Is Bowburn expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £162,875, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £99,000, semi-detached houses £155,000 and detached houses £257,995.
About Bowburn
Town in County Durham, England
Bowburn is a built-up area of 4,843 people, in the County Durham council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 4,843 (Census 2021)
- Council
- County Durham
- County
- County Durham
- Region
- North East
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi (2 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000212
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.