Brandon’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Brandon’s built-up area.
15% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
BrandonCounty Durham
A town of 9,508 in County Durham, North East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Robert Graham · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
9,508
Census 2021 · County Durham council
Median home
£137K
305 sales in 3 years
Median age
42.6
20% are 65+ · County Durham 21%
Degree level
28%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
16%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B−
#17 of 52 in County Durham
Is Brandon a good place to live?
Brandon grades B− overall against UK towns: better than 46% of UK towns, and #17 of 52 in County Durham. Its strongest subject is cost of living (A−): median sale £137,000, 3.2 years of area income; rent £650 a month. Its weakest is safety (D): 43.5 violent and sexual offences and 19 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 8%.
What makes Brandon stand out
The 3 things Brandon does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
51% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
16% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
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 Brandon grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Brandon is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyDOpen →HealthLife expectancy 76.5 for men, 80.5 for womenDOpen →Cost of livingA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 53% of towns in England; secondary results beat 90% of towns in EnglandA−Open →Jobs & incomeCOpen →Hazard risk0.1% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaBOpen →WalkabilityBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors72% live within 400 m of a park; 2.2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC+Open →Civic life1.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 71% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Durham Castle and 8 more in and around Brandon
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Brandon. Best known first.
CastleDurham Castle2.3 km outside town, to the northeast
CathedralDurham Cathedral2.2 km outside town, to the northeast
MuseumOriental Museum1.5 km outside town, to the northeast · 19K visitors a year
CastleBrancepeth Castle1.3 km outside town, to the southwest
GardenDurham University Botanic Garden1.7 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumDurham University Museum of Archaeology2.3 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © 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
- Brancepeth Castle: Oliver Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Durham University Botanic Garden: Ken Walton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Brandon.
Safety
Brandon has more crime per resident than 90% of UK towns
Over the year to August 2026, 867 offences were reported in Brandon, along with 182 incidents of anti-social behaviour. For its size, Brandon records more crime per resident than 92% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 17.5 reports per 1,000, above both County Durham’s towns (16) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences accounted for 47% of recorded crime.
43.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearDSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 8% 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 & sexual411
Damage & arson140
Public order75
Shoplifting58
Burglary45
Other crime38
Other theft37
Vehicle crime29
Anti-social182
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.
43.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
19
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
17.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
867
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.
SchoolsA−
Brandon’s schools outperform 76% of towns in England on results
Two of its 3 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. Browney Primary Academy’s results beat nearly four in five schools in England like it. Some 527 pupils attend Brandon’s three primaries.
A−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Primary AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 280 | C |
| Browney Primary AcademyTop results in townPrimary | Primary | 181 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 3 schools →
Health
Lifespans in Brandon run shorter than in 91% of UK towns
At the census, 22% of people here had a disability, about level with County Durham’s towns (22%) and above England’s towns (17%). Asked at the census, 77% of residents of Brandon said they were in good or very good health. One GP practice serves the town; 86% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. 7.7% of residents report bad or very bad health.
77%good or very good healthDHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 77%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 8%
| Census 2021 | Brandon | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 77% | 77% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 7.7% | 7.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 22% | 22% | 17% |
76.5
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
80.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
History
Brandon’s listed buildings: 3, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Before 1919: that is when 15% of homes were built. Conservation areas cover 4% of Brandon’s land, above County Durham’s towns (0%) but below England’s towns (7%).
3listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
15%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
3
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade A−
More households in Brandon live in social housing than in County Durham’s towns or England’s towns: 28%
The private rented sector houses 14% of households. 57% of households own their home, below County Durham’s towns (62%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. Behind the median of £137,000: 305 standard sales inside Brandon’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£137Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Brandon£137K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £252,500 | 79 |
| Semi-detached | £135,000 | 119 |
| Terraced | £110,000 | 93 |
| Flat or maisonette | £72,750 | 14 |
57%
of households own their home · England 61%
14%
rent privately · England 21%
£650
average private rent a month, County Durham council area
£2,553
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
Fewer commuters in Brandon work nearby than in County Durham’s towns or England’s towns: 34% travel under 5 km
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 25% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Households had £48K a year before tax, higher than County Durham’s towns (£43K) yet lower than England’s towns (£55K). At the census, 16% of commuters got to work without a car. Work in town: 15% of resident commuters. Among 16 to 64s, 3.5% claimed unemployment benefits in 2026.
16%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving82%
On foot8%
Bus6%
Bicycle1%
34%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
25%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£48K
mean household income, before tax
3.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 60% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Brandon has fewer young adults than County Durham’s towns or England’s towns: 11% are 15 to 24
Degrees are held by 28% of adults. 16% are under 15, about level with County Durham’s towns (17%) and below England’s towns (18%). Line up the people of Brandon by age and the one in the middle is 42.6.
42.6median age
BrandonCounty DurhamEngland
Ages · share of residents
20%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications22%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level28%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Brandon | County Durham | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 20% | 21% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 22% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.2% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 28% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · County Durham and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Brandon
15pages on Brandon
The big questions
SafetyD43.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £137K · rent £650 a monthHousing93 sold in 12 months · busiest street Deerness HeightsSchoolsA−3 state schoolsHealthDLife expectancy 76.5 (men), 80.5 (women)Work & commuteC49% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB0.1% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Brandon
9 notable people were born in Brandon.
G
George BertramEnglish footballer (1896-1963)S
Stephen BallEnglish cricketer (born 1965)S
Stephen PearsEnglish footballer (born 1962)B
Bob YoungEnglish footballer (1894-1960)B
Billy BertramEnglish footballer (1897-1962)Photo credits
David C. Coates: Ryancoates, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brandon’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
New BrancepethUshaw Moor and BearparkDurhamSpennymoorHigh ShincliffeWillingtonEsh WinningBrandon
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon | 9,508 | — | B− | A− | D | D |
| New Brancepeth | 1,280 | 1.5 | — | A | D | D |
| Ushaw Moor and Bearpark | 6,483 | 2.1 | C | A− | D | D |
| Durham | 50,502 | 3.1 | B+ | B | D | C |
| Spennymoor | 20,401 | 3.4 | C− | A− | D− | D |
| High Shincliffe | 1,045 | 3.4 | — | C | A+ | C+ |
| Willington | 5,685 | 3.7 | D | A− | D− | D− |
| Esh Winning | 3,877 | 3.7 | C | A− | C− | D |
New Brancepeth and High Shincliffe have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Brandon
Is Brandon expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £137,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £72,750, terraced houses £110,000, semi-detached houses £135,000 and detached houses £252,500.
Are schools in Brandon good?
Secondary schools stand out: GCSE results beat 90% of towns in England. Primary results are closer to the middle, beating 53%. Brandon has 3 state schools; places are handled by County Durham council.
About Brandon
Town in County Durham, England
Brandon is a built-up area of 9,508 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
- 9,508 (Census 2021)
- Council
- County Durham
- County
- County Durham
- Region
- North East
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000203
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.