High Spen’s story
High Spen: 37% of homes built before 1919
37% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
High SpenTyne and Wear
15% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. The village, home to 1,933 people, lies in Tyne and Wear, North East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Christine Johnstone · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,933
Census 2021 · Gateshead council
Median home
£198K
125 sales in 3 years
Median age
49
24% are 65+ · Tyne and Wear 19%
Degree level
29%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
15%
of commuters · England 27%
Is High Spen a good place to live?
High Spen’s strongest is hazard risk (A). Where it falls short is health: life expectancy 78 for men, 80.9 for women. Jobs & income is weaker too — the mean household earns £42,396 a year. Homes sell for a median £197,500, about 4.5 years of what households in the Gateshead council area earn. The rest of its grades are middling: B for safety, B− for schools and B− for walkability.
Figures: flood risk, Environment Agency · life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021. High Spen is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Northumbria Police published 34 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
What makes High Spen stand out
The 3 things High Spen does most differently from other towns.
Homes built before 1919
History
37% of homes built before 1919
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
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
29% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How High Spen grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far High Spen is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
High Spen is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
HealthNear the bottom of the towns comparedDOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workC−Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC+Open →SafetyClose to the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesB−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 53% of towns in EnglandB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsC−Open →Outdoors74% live within 400 m of a park; 3.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC+Open →Civic life2.1 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryCOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in High Spen.
Health
More people in High Spen live with a disability than in Tyne and Wear’s towns or across England’s towns: 23%
High Spen has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.5 miles away. Asked at the census, just over three quarters of residents of High Spen said they were in good or very good health. 6.3% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, between Tyne and Wear’s towns (7.1%) and England’s towns (5.2%). The nearest A&E to High Spen is Royal Victoria Infirmary, 7.3 miles away.
76%good or very good healthDHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 76%Fair 17%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | High Spen | Tyne and Wear | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 76% | 78% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 6.3% | 7.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 23% | 21% | 17% |
78
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
80.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Read these answers with age in mind: they aren’t adjusted, so younger places do better. The Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
SchoolsB−
On exam results, High Spen’s schools beat 54% of towns in England
The town has one school, shown below. 62% of pupils at the 7 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). 172 pupils attend High Spen’s one primary school.
B−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Spen Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 172 | B+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
High Spen keeps more of its old housing than Tyne and Wear’s towns or England’s towns: 37% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Historic England’s list has no building inside High Spen’s built-up area.
0listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
37%
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
HousingCost of living grade C+
Most households in High Spen own their home: 74%, more than in Tyne and Wear’s towns and across England’s towns
13% of households are private tenants. Private rents average £804 a month across the Gateshead council area. Also worth knowing: half of the 125 standard sales inside High Spen’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £197,500.
£198Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
High Spen£198K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £249,995 | 50 |
| Semi-detached | £175,000 | 27 |
| Terraced | £128,000 | 48 |
74%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£804
average private rent a month, Gateshead council area
£2,716
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Safety
Burglary and damage are rarer in High Spen than in Tyne and Wear’s towns or across England’s towns: 8.6 per 1,000 residents a year
Violent crime ran at 20.8 per 1,000 residents a year, below Tyne and Wear’s towns (32.7) and England’s towns (22) alike. Police figures for High Spen’s built-up area: 74 crimes and 45 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. Violence and sexual offences made up 46% of the total.
20.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearBSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 36% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual34
Public order10
Other crime10
Vehicle crime7
Damage & arson5
Other theft4
Burglary3
Drugs1
Anti-social45
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.
20.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
18
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
74
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−
Long commutes are the norm in High Spen: just 20% travel under 5 km, below Tyne and Wear’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 27% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Unemployment benefit claims reached 2.9% of 16 to 64s in 2026. The car took 83% of commuters, above Tyne and Wear’s towns (70%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. High Spen counts 0.3 jobs per working resident. 7% of commuters who live in High Spen also work there.
15%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
On foot7%
Bus6%
Bicycle1%
20%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
27%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£42K
mean household income, before tax
2.9%
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
Fewer children live in High Spen than in Tyne and Wear’s towns or England’s towns: 14% are under 15
Young adults of 15 to 24 are 9.5% of residents, lower than both Tyne and Wear’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%). People 65 and over make up 24% of the town. Typical age in High Spen: 49, the median. Graduates make up 29% of adults.
49median age
High SpenTyne and WearEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications19%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level29%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 96 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| High Spen | Tyne and Wear | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.5% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 19% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 19% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.4% | 6.6% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 29% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Tyne and Wear and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →George Stephenson's Birthplace and 5 more in and around High Spen
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near High Spen. Best known first.
Museum · National TrustGeorge Stephenson's Birthplace4.8 km outside town, to the north
Historic house · National TrustGibside3.2 km outside town, to the east
CastleHamsterley Hall3.1 km outside town, to the southHistoric siteHistoric site · English HeritageDerwentcote Steel Furnace2.5 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumPath Head Watermill4.5 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumRailway Museum4.8 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 (3)
- George Stephenson's Birthplace: Ken Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gibside: John Darch, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hamsterley Hall: P Glenwright, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about High Spen
15pages on High Spen
The big questions
SafetyB20.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £198K · rent £804 a monthHousing31 sold in 12 months · busiest street Ashtree AvenueSchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthDLife expectancy 78 (men), 80.9 (women)Work & commuteC−49% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from High Spen
9 notable people were born in High Spen.
M
Matthew ArmstrongEnglish footballer (1918-1941)G
George MosesAssociation football player (1920-1987)J
Jerry BestEnglish footballers (1897-1955)C
Charlie PurvesBritish association football player (1921-2013)J
Jack WatsonEnglish cricketer, football coach (1921-2012)Photo credits
Stuart Bell: Steve Punter, CC BY-SA 2.0
High Spen’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Rowlands GillChopwellCrawcrook and GreensideBurnopfieldBlackhall MillBlaydonRytonHigh Spen
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Spen | 1,933 | — | — | C+ | B | D |
| Rowlands Gill | 5,254 | 1.3 | C | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Chopwell | 2,530 | 1.4 | D | B | D− | D |
| Crawcrook and Greenside | 7,544 | 2.3 | B+ | B− | B | C |
| Burnopfield | 2,998 | 2.4 | A− | A− | B+ | C− |
| Blackhall Mill | 1,528 | 2.5 | — | B+ | B | C |
| Blaydon | 14,237 | 3 | C− | B− | D | D |
| Ryton | 8,804 | 3.1 | B− | C | C+ | C+ |
Blackhall Mill has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about High Spen
How much is council tax in High Spen?
Band D council tax in High Spen is £2,716 for 2026–27, more than in 96% of UK towns (council, county, police and fire). Your own bill depends on your home’s band; check it on GOV.UK.
Is High Spen expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £197,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £128,000, semi-detached houses £175,000 and detached houses £249,995.
Does High Spen flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About High Spen
Village in Tyne and Wear, England
High Spen is a built-up area of 1,933 people, in the Gateshead 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
- 1,933 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Gateshead
- County
- Tyne and Wear
- Region
- North East
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000114
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.