Pegswood’s story
9 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Pegswood’s built-up area.
12% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
PegswoodNorthumberland
3,302 residents make their home in this town in Northumberland, North East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Graham Robson · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
3,302
Census 2021 · Northumberland council
Median home
£170K
135 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.3
21% are 65+ · Northumberland 25%
Degree level
26%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
15%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B
#5 of 20 in Northumberland
Is Pegswood a good place to live?
Pegswood’s standout strength is cost of living (A) — a typical home costs £170,000 and rent runs £695 a month. Its overall grade of B puts it better than 63% of UK towns, #5 of 20 in Northumberland. Schools are another plus (B+) — primary results beat 54% of towns in England; secondary results beat 82% of towns in England. The trade-off is jobs & income — mean household income £50,617; 3.4% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. It lags on health as well: men here can expect to live to 78.3, women to 82.7.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP.
Northumbria Police published 34 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
What makes Pegswood stand out
The 3 things Pegswood 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%)
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.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
39% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Pegswood grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Pegswood is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingMedian sale £170,000, 3.6 years of area incomeAOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the weakest comparedC−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 54% of towns in England; secondary results beat 82% of towns in EnglandB+Open →HealthBehind most towns comparedCOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentCOpen →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBelow the middle of the towns comparedCOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 1.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC+Open →Civic life0.9 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryDOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Pegswood.
HousingCost of living grade A
Social housing is more common in Pegswood than in Northumberland’s towns or across England’s towns, at 25% of households
58% of households own their home, lower than both Northumberland’s towns (65%) and England’s towns (61%). The £170,000 median rests on 135 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026). Renting privately is how 17% of households live.
£170Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Pegswood£170K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £250,000 | 39 |
| Semi-detached | £157,250 | 70 |
| Terraced | £120,000 | 23 |
58%
of households own their home · England 61%
17%
rent privately · England 21%
£695
average private rent a month, Northumberland council area
£2,621
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
SchoolsB+
Exam results at Pegswood’s schools top 72% of towns in England
Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 51.1, and 57% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths. Its only school is listed below. 62% of pupils at the 4 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
B+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pegswood Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 133 | C− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
Pegswood’s listed buildings: 9, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
12% of homes date from before 1919. Relative to its size, Pegswood keeps 27 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below both Northumberland’s towns (52) and England’s towns (39).
9listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II9
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
12%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
27
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
Bad health is more common in Pegswood than in Northumberland’s towns or across England’s towns: 7.2% of residents
22% of residents in Pegswood live with a disability. At the census, 77% of people in Pegswood called their health good or very good, near Northumberland’s towns (78%) and lower than England’s towns (82%). This Northumberland town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.5 miles away.
77%good or very good healthCHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 77%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 7%
| Census 2021 | Pegswood | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 77% | 78% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 7.2% | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 22% | 22% | 17% |
78.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.7
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.
Safety
Homes in Pegswood see more burglary and damage than in Northumberland’s towns or England’s towns: 14.6 per 1,000 a year
157 crimes and 78 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Pegswood’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. There were 20.7 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), higher than both Northumberland’s towns (16.8) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences accounted for 43% of recorded crime.
26.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearCSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 32% 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 & sexual68
Damage & arson26
Shoplifting12
Public order12
Other theft11
Vehicle crime10
Burglary5
Other crime5
Anti-social78
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.
26.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
14.6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
20.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
157
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Pegswood than in Northumberland’s towns or England’s towns: 15%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 20% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
83% of commuters drove, higher than both Northumberland’s towns (79%) and England’s towns (70%). For 36% of commuters, work was under 5 km away. Of the commuters living in Pegswood, 6% work in the town itself. The town counts 0.3 jobs per working resident.
15%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
On foot7%
Bus6%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
36%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
20%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£51K
mean household income, before tax
3.4%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 58% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Degrees are less common in Pegswood than in Northumberland’s towns or across England’s towns: 26% of adults
One in ten residents are 15 to 24, between Northumberland’s towns (9.4%) and England’s towns (12%). Those 65 and older account for just over a fifth of residents. Residents of Pegswood have a median age of 46.3. The under-15s are 16% of the population here.
46.3median age
PegswoodNorthumberlandEngland
Ages · share of residents
21%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications19%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level26%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Pegswood | Northumberland | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 9.4% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 22% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 28% | 25% |
| 65+ | 21% | 25% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 19% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.6% | 7.1% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 26% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Northumberland and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Bothal Castle and 2 more in and around Pegswood
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Pegswood. Best known first.
CastleBothal Castle1 km outside town, to the southeast
CastleMorpeth Castle2.4 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumMorpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum2.2 km outside town, to the southwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Bothal Castle: DRomley, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Morpeth Castle: C G Burke, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum: The original uploader was Tzdelski at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Pegswood
15pages on Pegswood
The big questions
SafetyC26.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £170K · rent £695 a monthHousing54 sold in 12 months · busiest street Beaumont CourtSchoolsB+1 state schoolHealthCLife expectancy 78.3 (men), 82.7 (women)Work & commuteC−37% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Pegswood’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
MorpethStakefordAshingtonBedlingtonWiddrington StationEllingtonLynemouthPegswood
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pegswood | 3,302 | — | B | A | C | C |
| Morpeth | 14,419 | 2 | B | B− | D | B− |
| Stakeford | 8,197 | 2.6 | C− | A | C | D |
| Ashington | 28,279 | 3.4 | C− | A | D− | D− |
| Bedlington | 16,186 | 4 | C | A | D | D |
| Widdrington Station | 2,495 | 4.3 | — | A | C | D |
| Ellington | 2,131 | 4.6 | — | A− | B− | C− |
| Lynemouth | 1,685 | 4.9 | — | A | D | D |
Widdrington Station, Ellington and Lynemouth have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Pegswood
Is Pegswood expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £170,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £120,000, semi-detached houses £157,250 and detached houses £250,000.
Is Pegswood safe?
It has more crime per resident than most places its size: 68% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people report less.
Does Pegswood flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Pegswood
Town in Northumberland, England
Pegswood is a built-up area of 3,302 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
- 3,302 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Northumberland
- County
- Northumberland
- Region
- North East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000039
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.