#1Wynyard
4,040 people22.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·16.6 violent and sexual, 5.5 homes and vehicles·#207 of 2,138 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Wynyard, #1 on this list · Photo: Carol Rose · CC BY-SA 2.0County Durham rankings · Safety
Safest towns in County Durham
Wynyard records the least crime per resident of County Durham’s 52 towns of 2,500+ with police.uk figures: 22.1 crimes per 1,000 residents a year (16.6 violent and sexual offences, 5.5 against homes and vehicles). 1 of the 52 grade A− or better on safety.
The Safety Grade: violent and sexual offences, burglary, vehicle crime and criminal damage recorded inside the town by police.uk, per 1,000 residents a year over three years, lowest first. The rank across England, Wales and Northern Ireland sits beside each letter. How grades work
#1A−
#2Burnopfield
2,998 people24.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·15.8 violent and sexual, 8.4 homes and vehicles·#297 of 2,138 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
#3Witton Gilbert
2,525 people24.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·18.4 violent and sexual, 6.3 homes and vehicles·#319 of 2,138 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
All 52 towns, ranked
Crimes per 1,000 residents a year, lowest first; the sort uses the exact rate. Military garrison towns and university campuses keep their grades but aren’t ranked. Each rank across England, Wales and Northern Ireland links to the national list.
52 towns.
#TownGrade · UK rankCrime rate
1Wynyard4,040 peopleA−#207 of 2,138 nationally22.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·16.6 violent and sexual, 5.5 homes and vehicles
2Burnopfield2,998 peopleB+#297 of 2,138 nationally24.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·15.8 violent and sexual, 8.4 homes and vehicles
3Witton Gilbert2,525 peopleB+#319 of 2,138 nationally24.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·18.4 violent and sexual, 6.3 homes and vehicles
4Hurworth-on-Tees2,667 peopleB+#345 of 2,138 nationally25.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.1 violent and sexual, 6.0 homes and vehicles
5Egglescliffe10,250 peopleB#520 of 2,138 nationally28.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·18.1 violent and sexual, 10.4 homes and vehicles
T6Great Lumley3,627 peopleB#596 of 2,138 nationally29.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·21.0 violent and sexual, 8.6 homes and vehicles
T6Lanchester3,510 peopleB#616 of 2,138 nationally30.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.6 violent and sexual, 10.4 homes and vehicles
8Sedgefield4,979 peopleB−#660 of 2,138 nationally30.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.6 violent and sexual, 11.2 homes and vehicles
9Barnard Castle5,783 peopleC+#1,047 of 2,138 nationally38.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·24.9 violent and sexual, 13.7 homes and vehicles
10South Hetton2,877 peopleC#1,260 of 2,138 nationally43.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·26.4 violent and sexual, 16.9 homes and vehicles
11Dipton2,653 peopleC#1,283 of 2,138 nationally44.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·26.5 violent and sexual, 17.5 homes and vehicles
12Coxhoe4,542 peopleC#1,322 of 2,138 nationally45.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.1 violent and sexual, 15.0 homes and vehicles
13Consett29,874 peopleC#1,394 of 2,138 nationally47.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·33.8 violent and sexual, 13.4 homes and vehicles
14Trimdon2,835 peopleC−#1,413 of 2,138 nationally47.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·26.3 violent and sexual, 21.3 homes and vehicles
T15Esh Winning3,877 peopleC−#1,522 of 2,138 nationally51.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·38.7 violent and sexual, 12.6 homes and vehicles
T15Pelton and Ouston7,305 peopleC−#1,528 of 2,138 nationally51.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·31.0 violent and sexual, 20.4 homes and vehicles
17Sherburn2,796 peopleC−#1,571 of 2,138 nationally52.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.8 violent and sexual, 21.7 homes and vehicles
18Middleton St George4,756 peopleC−#1,598 of 2,138 nationally53.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.9 violent and sexual, 12.3 homes and vehicles
T19Seaham21,660 peopleC−#1,666 of 2,138 nationally56.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·34.3 violent and sexual, 21.6 homes and vehicles
T19Chester-le-Street23,554 peopleC−#1,670 of 2,138 nationally56.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·37.2 violent and sexual, 18.9 homes and vehicles
T19Langley Park4,031 peopleC−#1,672 of 2,138 nationally56.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·39.1 violent and sexual, 17.0 homes and vehicles
T19Bowburn4,843 peopleC−#1,683 of 2,138 nationally56.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·37.6 violent and sexual, 18.8 homes and vehicles
23Durham50,502 peopleD#1,704 of 2,138 nationally57.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.6 violent and sexual, 16.7 homes and vehicles
T24Thornley2,543 peopleD#1,735 of 2,138 nationally58.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.9 violent and sexual, 27.4 homes and vehicles
T24Leadgate3,339 peopleD#1,738 of 2,138 nationally58.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.8 violent and sexual, 17.6 homes and vehicles
26Ushaw Moor and Bearpark6,483 peopleD#1,764 of 2,138 nationally59.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·41.8 violent and sexual, 17.7 homes and vehicles
27Sacriston5,186 peopleD#1,801 of 2,138 nationally61.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·38.5 violent and sexual, 23.3 homes and vehicles
T28Brandon9,508 peopleD#1,820 of 2,138 nationally62.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·43.5 violent and sexual, 19.0 homes and vehicles
T28Billingham33,917 peopleD#1,830 of 2,138 nationally62.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·38.6 violent and sexual, 24.3 homes and vehicles
T30Shotton Colliery4,943 peopleD#1,925 of 2,138 nationally69.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.4 violent and sexual, 29.5 homes and vehicles
T30Darlington93,022 peopleD#1,934 of 2,138 nationally71.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·45.2 violent and sexual, 25.8 homes and vehicles
T30Crook9,717 peopleD#1,942 of 2,138 nationally71.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·45.4 violent and sexual, 26.0 homes and vehicles
T33Blackhall Colliery4,577 peopleD#1,950 of 2,138 nationally72.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·49.1 violent and sexual, 23.1 homes and vehicles
T33Newton Aycliffe25,760 peopleD#1,964 of 2,138 nationally73.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·48.3 violent and sexual, 24.9 homes and vehicles
T33Wingate5,033 peopleD#1,966 of 2,138 nationally73.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·37.8 violent and sexual, 35.4 homes and vehicles
36Annfield Plain7,786 peopleD#1,990 of 2,138 nationally75.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·50.6 violent and sexual, 24.4 homes and vehicles
37Spennymoor20,401 peopleD−#2,012 of 2,138 nationally77.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·49.7 violent and sexual, 27.6 homes and vehicles
T38Easington6,968 peopleD−#2,043 of 2,138 nationally82.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·54.5 violent and sexual, 27.5 homes and vehicles
T38Stanley19,423 peopleD−#2,058 of 2,138 nationally85.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·57.4 violent and sexual, 28.0 homes and vehicles
T38Chilton4,693 peopleD−#2,059 of 2,138 nationally85.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·52.8 violent and sexual, 32.6 homes and vehicles
T41West Auckland3,107 peopleD−#2,070 of 2,138 nationally87.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·54.3 violent and sexual, 33.2 homes and vehicles
T41Peterlee19,750 peopleD−#2,080 of 2,138 nationally88.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·58.1 violent and sexual, 30.5 homes and vehicles
T41Hartlepool88,001 peopleD−#2,090 of 2,138 nationally91.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·63.1 violent and sexual, 28.5 homes and vehicles
T41Willington5,685 peopleD−#2,091 of 2,138 nationally91.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·58.4 violent and sexual, 33.1 homes and vehicles
T41Bishop Auckland23,359 peopleD−#2,094 of 2,138 nationally92.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·56.3 violent and sexual, 36.4 homes and vehicles
T46Wheatley Hill3,148 peopleD−#2,098 of 2,138 nationally94.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·50.5 violent and sexual, 43.9 homes and vehicles
T46Murton7,239 peopleD−#2,102 of 2,138 nationally95.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·54.8 violent and sexual, 40.8 homes and vehicles
T46Stockton-on-Tees84,824 peopleD−#2,103 of 2,138 nationally95.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·63.5 violent and sexual, 32.2 homes and vehicles
T46Coundon and Leeholme2,522 peopleD−#2,108 of 2,138 nationally98.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·60.8 violent and sexual, 38.1 homes and vehicles
T46Horden6,805 peopleD−#2,114 of 2,138 nationally101.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·62.8 violent and sexual, 39.0 homes and vehicles
T46Ferryhill8,857 peopleD−#2,121 of 2,138 nationally106.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·69.8 violent and sexual, 36.5 homes and vehicles
T46Shildon9,650 peopleD−#2,125 of 2,138 nationally108.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·65.8 violent and sexual, 42.4 homes and vehicles
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the safest town in County Durham?
Wynyard ranks first on safety among 52 towns, with an A−: 22.1 crimes per 1,000 residents a year (16.6 violent and sexual offences, 5.5 against homes and vehicles). Burnopfield and Witton Gilbert follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Safety Grade: violent and sexual offences, burglary, vehicle crime and criminal damage recorded inside the town by police.uk, per 1,000 residents a year over three years, lowest first. The letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
Garrison towns and university campuses aren’t ranked, and towns without the figures this grade needs are counted above. The list covers County Durham’s towns of 2,500+ with the figure. Smaller places show it on their own pages; every town in County Durham is on the county page.
Go deeper
All County Durham rankings →More County Durham lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live52 towns · #1 EgglescliffeBest small towns38 towns · #1 SedgefieldMost affordable towns52 towns · #1 Stockton-on-TeesTowns with the best schools52 towns · #1 Barnard CastleHealthiest towns52 towns · #1 WynyardBest towns for jobs & income52 towns · #1 WynyardMost walkable towns52 towns · #1 Barnard CastleTowns with the lowest flood risk52 towns · #1 Blackhall Colliery and 23 moreBest towns for the outdoors52 towns · #1 SeahamMost historic towns52 towns · #1 Barnard CastleTowns with the most civic life52 towns · #1 Barnard CastleTowns with the highest household incomes52 towns · #1 WynyardDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest council tax52 towns · #1 DarlingtonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters52 towns · #1 Horden and SeahamDescribed, no lettersTowns with the warmest summers52 towns · #1 Stockton-on-TeesDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers52 towns · #1 Consett and LeadgateDescribed, no lettersTowns with the fewest frosts52 towns · #1 HartlepoolDescribed, no lettersDriest towns52 towns · #1 Hartlepool and HordenDescribed, no lettersWettest towns52 towns · #1 Esh WinningDescribed, no letters
County by county
Safest towns, county by county
BedfordshireBerkshireBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCheshireClwydCornwallCounty DurhamCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetDyfedEast Riding of YorkshireEast SussexEssexGloucestershireGwentHampshireHertfordshireKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireLondonMerseysideMid GlamorganNorfolkNorth YorkshireNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOxfordshireShropshireSomersetSouth YorkshireStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyTyne and WearWarwickshireWest GlamorganWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWiltshireWorcestershire
Sources: data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · 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.