Morpeth grades B overall against UK towns: better than 56% of UK towns, and #6 of 20 in Northumberland. Its strongest subject is schools (A−): primary results beat 59% of towns in England; secondary results beat 82% of towns in England. Its weakest is safety (D): 45.3 violent and sexual offences and 18.4 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Among UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, it has less crime per resident than 17%. The median home sold for £272,000 in the last three years, 5.8 times what households in the Northumberland council area earn in a year.

Northumbria Police published 34 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.

StrongestA⁻SchoolsWeakestDSafety

What makes Morpeth stand out

The 3 things Morpeth does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Listed buildings per 10,000 residents

History

2 Grade I, including Church of St Mary; 2.2 times the typical UK town for its size

Historic England’s list, October 2026.

Rent against income, UK towns

Renting

£695 a month

Average private rent, 18% of what households in the area earn: less than in 96% of UK towns

ONS private rents, Northumberland council area.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

29% are 65 or over

Against 18% across England’s towns

How Morpeth grades

Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Morpeth is from typical. American towns are graded separately.

How grading works

SafetyDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 59% of towns in England; secondary results beat 82% of towns in EnglandA⁻Open →Walkability19% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transportB⁺Open →Hazard risk0.7% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £55,675; 2.2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsBOpen →HealthLife expectancy 79.5 for men, 85.1 for womenB⁻Open →Cost of livingrent £695 a monthB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

HistoryB⁺Open →Outdoors80% live within 400 m of a park; 3.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsBOpen →Civic life3.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Antiquities of Great Britain, - illustrated in views of monasteries, castles, and churches, now existing, 1807 · Photo: Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions

Morpeth’s story

Morpeth in pictures

Historic England lists 79 buildings inside Morpeth’s built-up area, 2 of them Grade I, and 2 scheduled monuments.

14% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.

The archive holds 7 old photos and postcards going back to 1807.

c. 1809Morpeth North (Liber Studiorum, part IV, plate 21)
c. 1809Print, Morpeth, Northumberland, from the Liber Studiorum, 1809
1833Morpeth Market Place, 1833 - drawing

Explore the history →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Morpeth.

Who lives here

More people in Morpeth hold a degree than in Northumberland’s towns or England’s towns: 43%

In the comparison, Morpeth comes above both Northumberland’s towns (29%) and England’s towns (34%). Over-65s are 29% of the population. The median resident of Morpeth is 50.8 years old.

50.8median age

MorpethNorthumberlandEngland

NorthumberlandEngland

Ages · share of residents

29%

Qualifications · residents 16 and older

No qualifications13%

Apprenticeship5%

A levels or similar16%

Degree level43%

Women and men · all residents

53% women, 47% men

About 89 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.

Ages and qualifications in Morpeth
	Morpeth	Northumberland	England
Under 15	15%	15%	18%
15–24	8.2%	9.4%	12%
25–44	19%	22%	27%
45–64	29%	28%	25%
65+	29%	25%	18%
No qualifications	13%	19%	18%
Apprenticeship	5.2%	7.1%	5.3%
A levels or similar	16%	18%	17%
Degree level	43%	29%	34%

Full pageMorpeth’s Who lives here pageOpen the page

Ages50.8 median age · 29% are 65 or over Households6,663 households · 74% own their home Where people were born4.4% born outside the UK Questions“What is the population of Morpeth?”

ONS Census 2021 · Northumberland and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL

SchoolsA⁻

Results at Morpeth’s schools beat 75% of towns in England

Two of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

A⁻School Grade

School	Level	Pupils	Letter
Abbeyfields First SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary	Primary	324	–
The King Edward VI SchoolLargest secondary schoolSecondary	Secondary	1,426	A⁻

Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 9 schools →

Safety

Morpeth has more crime per resident than 90% of UK towns

Violence came to 45.3 per 1,000 residents a year, above both Northumberland’s towns (24.8) and England’s towns (22). Police recorded 1,076 crimes inside Morpeth’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 214 reports of anti-social behaviour. Among the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people, Morpeth has more crime per resident than 83% of them.

45.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearDSafety Grade

Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 17% of the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.

More crimeLess crime

Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026

Violence & sexual506

Public order142

Shoplifting113

Damage & arson108

Other theft46

Other crime46

Burglary42

Vehicle crime34

Anti-social214

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.

45.3

violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

18.4

burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

17.6

anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)

1,076

crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026

Full pageMorpeth’s safety reportOpen the page

Safety Grade45.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 · Morpeth has more crime per resident than 90% of UK towns Crime by typeViolence & sexual leads Vs. the neighboursAhead of 1 of its 7 graded neighbours Questions“Is Morpeth safe?”

data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

Commuters in Morpeth travel far: only 29% go under 5 km, fewer than in Northumberland’s towns or England’s towns

The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 34% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.

For Morpeth, that is below both Northumberland’s towns (34%) and England’s towns (45%). 80% of commuters drove to work at the census.

19%walk, cycle or ride

How commuters got to work · March 2021

Driving80%

On foot13%

Bus3%

Bicycle1%

Train1%

29%

of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%

34%

worked mainly from home in March 2021

£56K

mean household income, before tax

2.2%

of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)

B⁺

Walkability: more walkable than 73% of UK towns

Full pageMorpeth’s work & commute pageOpen the page

Commute map19% walk, cycle or ride Jobs based here8,050 jobs based here · Public administration and defence is the biggest, 25%Household income£56K a year · Mean household income Getting to work29% go under 5 km · Short trips to work

ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL

History

79 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade I

The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.

Morpeth has 79 listed buildings inside its built-up area on Historic England’s list: 2 Grade I, 6 Grade II*. 14% of its homes were built before 1919.

79listed buildingsB⁺History Grade

Listed buildings by grade · Historic England

Grade I2

Grade II*6

Grade II71

Among them · Grade I

Church of St Mary Grade I
The Chantry Grade I

scheduled monuments

registered parks and gardens

14%

of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%

listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24

Full pageMorpeth’s history pageOpen the page

Listed buildings79 listed buildings Homes by age14% built before 1919 · Older homes Vs. the neighboursAhead of all 7 graded neighbours Questions“How many listed buildings are there in Morpeth?”

Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL

Health

5% of people in Morpeth say their health is bad or very bad, against 6.5% in Northumberland’s towns and 5.2% in England’s towns

At the census, 19% of people here had a disability, below Northumberland’s towns (22%) but above England’s towns (17%). The nearest A&E to Morpeth is Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, 7.8 miles away. 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.

81%good or very good healthB⁻Health Grade

General health, self-reported

Good or very good 81%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 5%

Census 2021	Morpeth	Northumberland	England
Good or very good health	81%	78%	82%
Bad or very bad health	5%	6.5%	5.2%
Disabled (Equality Act)	19%	22%	17%

79.5

life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)

85.1

life expectancy at birth, women

Full pageMorpeth’s health pageOpen the page

Health GradeLife expectancy: women 85.1, men 79.5 Getting care7.8 miles to A&E · Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital GP practices4 GP practices · 79% rate their practice good Census health81% in good health

ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL

HousingCost of living grade B⁻

Morpeth is a town of owners: 74% of households own their home, above Northumberland’s towns and England’s towns

Morpeth sits above both Northumberland’s towns (65%) and England’s towns (61%) on this measure. 12% of households rent privately.

£272Kmedian sale

Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

Morpeth£272K

Typical UK town£277K

By type	Median	Sales
Detached	£390,000	294
Semi-detached	£240,000	277
Terraced	£193,500	184
Flat or maisonette	£150,500	122

74%

of households own their home · England 61%

12%

rent privately · England 21%

£695

average private rent a month, Northumberland council area

£2,619

council tax, Band D, 2026–27

Full pageMorpeth’s housing & cost pageOpen the page

House pricesMedian sale £272,000 Renting£695 a month · Average private rent Council tax£2,619 Band D · Council tax, 2026–27 Owners and renters74% own their home

HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL

Nearby attractions

Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum and 4 more in and around Morpeth

Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Morpeth. Best known first.

All attractions →

MuseumMorpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museumin town

CastleMorpeth Castle100 m outside town, to the east

CastleBothal Castle2.5 km outside town, to the east

CastleMitford Castle1.4 km outside town, to the west AttractionAttractionWhitehouse Farm Centre2.3 km outside town, to the south

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (4)

Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum: The original uploader was Tzdelski at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Morpeth Castle: C G Burke, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bothal Castle: DRomley, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mitford Castle: Pat Pierpoint, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Morpeth

15pages on Morpeth

The big questions

SafetyD45.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 Cost of livingB⁻Median home £272K · rent £695 a month Housing245 sold in 12 months · busiest street Dacre Street SchoolsA⁻9 state schools HealthB⁻Life expectancy 79.5 (men), 85.1 (women)Work & commuteB57% of working residents work in the town Flood & hazardsC⁺0.7% of homes at high or medium flood risk

Out and about

OutdoorsB80% live within 400 m of a park AttractionsClimateJuly highs of 19°C (67°F), 776 mm of rain a year Weather

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 50.8 · 14,419 people HistoryB⁺79 listed buildings, 2 Grade I Town Hall & politicsCouncil area: Northumberland Famous people46 born here, among them Robert Morrison

Landmarks

79 listed buildings in Morpeth, 2 of them Grade I.

All landmarks →

Church of St MaryGrade I listed

The ChantryGrade I listed

New Bridge (Telford Bridge)Grade II* listed

The Toll HouseGrade II listed

Photo credits

Church of St Mary: Photo: Bill Henderson · CC BY-SA 2.0 · The Chantry: Photo: Tzdelski · CC BY-SA 3.0 · New Bridge (Telford Bridge): Photo: Simon Cobb · CC0 · The Toll House: Photo: Simon Cobb · CC0

Famous people from Morpeth

46 notable people were born in Morpeth.

See all 46 →

Robert MorrisonBritish evangelist and first Christian Protestant missionar…

N. T. WrightAnglican bishop · born 1948

Hamish TurnbullBritish cyclist · born 1999

Joseph CrawhallBritish artist (1861-1913)

Tom StoddartBritish photographer · 1953–2021

William Turner16th century English Protestant reformer, physician and nat… · 1510–1568

Photo credits

Robert Morrison: John R. Wildman, Public domain · N. T. Wright: Gareth Saunders, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hamish Turnbull: Nicola, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Joseph Crawhall: T and R Annan, Glasgow, Public domain · Tom Stoddart: Virgil Lucky, CC BY-SA 4.0

Morpeth’s neighbours

The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →

All towns in Northumberland →

PegswoodStakefordBedlingtonAshingtonWiddrington StationEllingtonCramlingtonMorpeth

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	Miles	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Morpeth	14,419	—	B	B⁻	D	B⁻
Pegswood	3,302	2	B	A	C	C
Stakeford	8,197	4.1	C⁻	A	C	D
Bedlington	16,186	4.6	C	A	D	D
Ashington	28,279	5.2	C⁻	A	D⁻	D⁻
Widdrington Station	2,495	6	—	A	C	D
Ellington	2,131	6.6	—	A⁻	B⁻	C⁻
Cramlington	28,846	6.9	B⁻	A⁻	C	C

Widdrington Station and Ellington have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.

Questions about Morpeth

How many listed buildings are there in Morpeth?

That is 2.2 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I buildings include Church of St Mary. It also has 2 scheduled monuments.

Who lives in Morpeth?

An older town. At the 2021 Census, 29% of residents were 65 or over and 29% were 45 to 64, against 18% and 25% across England’s towns; 15% were under 15.

Is Morpeth safe?

Police recorded 1,076 crimes inside Morpeth’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, 47% of them violence and sexual offences, a police category that includes harassment and stalking.

Are schools in Morpeth good?

Secondary schools stand out: GCSE results beat 82% of towns in England. Primary results are closer to the middle, beating 59%.

About Morpeth

Town in Northumberland, England

Morpeth is a built-up area of 14,419 people, in the Northumberland 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: 14,419 (Census 2021)
Council: Northumberland
County: Northumberland
Region: North East
Area: 2 sq mi (5.2 km²)
ONS code: E63000041

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.